Boredom

Boredom is an open book waiting to be written.

Make Me Smile

You make me smile when you volunteer.

You make me smile when you create.

You make me smile when you persevere.

You make me smile when you aren't late.

Move

When in doubt, move.

Do something. Take action.

It might be as simple as making your bed.

You never know what positive results you will have.

 But very little will come to you if you do nothing.

You Can Do What You Can Do

In the words of Allan Kournikova, “You can't do everything, but you can do what you can do.”

And today, my kiddos, you are GETTING THIS HOUSE CLEAN!

http://www.playmakeronline.com/2013/03/17/sxsw-interview-kids-from-the-short-game/

Let's Make the Best of It!

Let's make the best of it.

We have paper, pencils, and an endless supply of books.

We have amazing brains that only work better the more we use them.

We have muscles and joints that are created for moving.

Let's get busy. Let's do the best we can with what we've got!

Winning

Let's talk about competition and winning. You know it is important to always do your best, to work hard and try to win. It is fun and it is noble to come in first place.

We have had our share of winning in our family. It is exciting and the winner usually gets lots of attention. Then what?

The trophy sits on the shelf and we are on to the next event to try to win.

There is another accomplishment that is more important, therefore more fulfilling than coming in first place. It is what I call “Winning at Life”.

“Winning at Life” is smiling at people as you walk by. It is noticing if someone is hurting and offering to help. It is being humble. It is seeing that a job needs to be done and doing it. It is remembering a person's name and caring about what is important to them. It is letting someone else have the last piece of cake.

These are accomplishments that will have lasting value. The trophy will get thrown away, but the rewards for these actions and attitudes are so much more fulfilling. They are what God made us to for.  

Delayed Gratification

Do you know what delayed gratification is? It is something you need to know about and understand the significance to your life.

If you practice delayed gratification, you put off an immediate pleasure so that you can experience a greater pleasure at a later date.

Saving money is a great example of this. Instead of spending your money on little things, like candy, you save it up to buy one big thing, like an ipad.

Practicing music or sports is another example. Remember those times when you would rather take a break or go to a fun event, but it is time to practice. Practicing can lead you to greater opportunities if you stick with it. You might get to play in an exciting tournament or perform an amazing song. Or maybe just being good at it is the greater pleasure.

Jesus is our perfect example. He endured death on the cross, so that we could live. We were the joy set before him.

Let us remember what He did, and never lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

http://www.ted.com/talks/joachim_de_posada_says_don_t_eat_the_marshmallow_yet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_oy9614HQ