Kites

"The boy was very young.  It was his first experience with kite flying.  His father helped him, and after several attempts, the kite was in the air.  The boy ran and let out more string, and soon the kite was flying high.  The little boy was so excited; the kite was beautiful.  Eventually there was no more string left to allow the kite to go higher.  The boy said to his father, 'Daddy, let's cut the string and let the kite go; I want to see it go higher.'

His father said, 'Son, the kite won't go higher if we cut the string.'

'Yes it will,' responded the little boy.  'The string is holding the kite down; I can feel it.'  The father handed a pocketknife to his son.  The boy cut string.  In a matter of seconds the kite was out of control.  It darted here and there and finally landed in a broken heap.  That was difficult for the boy to understand.  He felt certain the string was holding the kite down."  (Ensign, Nov. 1999)

This story teaches a valuable lesson.  There are many things in life that seem to tie us down.  We feel that we can't soar to our full potential because of them, when really, it is quite the opposite.  They don't hold us down, they anchor us. 

The string can be compared to the commandments we keep.  As long as we are strong in keeping them, then our kite will fly high.  But once we choose to break that string, then we'll be driven with the wind because there is nothing there to anchor us.  We must always remember that the commandments aren't there to keep us down, but they keep us flying.  Once we realize this, we will be able to reach the end of that string, and the fullest of our potential.

Order Up!

When I was growing up, I never understood why I had to do my chores before I went to hang out with my friends.  The math would add up in my head: if I just hang out with my friends for 2 hours, then come home and do chores for 1 hour, it's the same as if I had done chores for 1 hour, then hung out with my friends for 2 hours.  Both are 3 hours.  Why did my parents always make me do my chores first?

I was reading an article the other day about good things we do in life.  The person writing the article said, "When I consider all the things [God] would have me do in this life, doing them at the right time seems as critical as doing them at all."  There are so many things in life that are good to do.  They help us learn, grow, and become better people.  Some of these may be getting an education, getting married, having kids, getting a job, moving out of your parents place, and so forth.  It's not only what we do, but when we do it.  These are all things that help us learn, grow, and advance in this life, but if done in the wrong order, they can be disastrous.

King Benjamin, A Book of Mormon prophet, knew how important order was in all things.  "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order;...And again, it is expedient the he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.  (Mosiah 4:27).  We must take King Benjain's advice and make sure everything we do is done in wisdom and order.  Combining those two elements can greatly improve our lives.  Let us all use both wisdom and order to ensure that we will "win the prize."

Make or Break

I'll start off this post with a riddle:

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half of the things you do you might as well turn over to me and I will do them - quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed - you must be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of great people, and alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a person.

You may run me for profit or run me for ruin - it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet.

Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

HABIT

This is so true.  So many things in life are done just by pure habit.  They can be good or bad.  The key is to start young.  Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet said, "O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God."  (Alma 37:35).  The things we learn in our youth will make or break us.

Starting good habits is the path to success, starting bad habits will only lead to failure.  Habit really is our greatest helper or our heaviest burden.  Once we learn to master our habits, we will truly have wisdom.  If keeping the commandments becomes one our of good habits, then we will see the blessings and feel the joy that comes through obedience to our Father in Heaven.