Things I Hope I’ve Taught My Children By Sally Blackburn

1. Make your life's choices based on principles, not feelings. Feelings change and sometimes lie. Trust principles, not feelings. 2. A grateful heart is the key to happiness. Always say "thank you" more than once (especially to Heavenly Father). 3. If you struggle to be grateful, imagine a situation worse than the one you're in (things CAN always get worse), and be grateful that didn't happen. 4. If you cannot be pleasant, be silent. Nothing is so miserable that complaining can't make things worse. 5. Be proactive, not reactive. Nobody has the remote control to you or your feelings. You are in control of yourself. 6. Remember the glory of God is intelligence, and knowledge is power. Be a lifelong learner of good and uplifting things. Remember the greatest knowledge you'll ever gain will come directly from your Heavenly Father through the Spirit of Truth. 7. Use your power, talents and gifts to bless and lift others. Don't be afraid to share; stage-fright is self-centered. 8. God is perfect. Count on him more than anyone else and don't expect other people to be like him. 9. Be quick to forgive. Change your expectations and adjust your boundaries, and don't take it personally when others behave badly out of their own weakness, mistaken understanding or emotional injuries that have nothing to do with you. 10. Life is intended to be challenging. It is the struggle that makes you strong, after all. Maybe most important of all: I love you all more than life. If I am capable of that, you cannot imagine the depth and breadth of the love of our Heavenly Parents for you. The one reason for the existence of everything in the universe is Love. Love is the basic message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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