I am so proud of my daughter and I am proud of you! Even though you think I don’t know you, I see my daughter in you and every one of us!
We all make tough choices every day! We are all striving to do our best. Sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes we ‘nail it!’
My daughter is a junior in high school with a full schedule of studies, music lessons, extra-curricular activities, family responsibilities, and church.
As you, she is in the process of learning to manage her time.
On one of those busy days, she called to let me know about a church activity that night that she had forgotten about. She loves ice skating and really wanted to attend. Her day was already full, but I left it up to her to decide if she could make it work.
When she arrived home, with limited time to get ready to meet the group, the first thing she said to me was,
“I decided I better not go. I have homework and a test tomorrow and the wise thing would be to stay home.”
I knew she was disappointed and I was disappointed for her, yet I was proud that she had the maturity to make the tough choice.
She had the ability see the results and the judgment to choose wisely, even though it meant being disappointed in the short term.
The British writer, James Allen, explained,
“This powerful focusing of one’s thought and energy and will upon the doing of things is difficult – but daily efforts, strenuously made and patiently followed up, will soon lead to such a measure of self-control as will… enlarge his usefulness in the scheme of things, and increase his value to the world, thus inviting nobler opportunities, and opening the door to higher duties, he will also experience the joy of a wider and fuller life.” James Allen, As a Man Thinketh, Vol. 2
We learn the ability to make difficult decisions. With daily effort, we increase that ability.
Some would say that this life is a time of testing. But testing implies pass or fail and creates a fear of making mistakes.
Rather, I look at life as a time of learning and growing and mistakes are an inherent part of that process, the part that we often learn the most from.
Recognize your efforts in making tough decisions. Whether your choice is always the wiser one or not, honor your journey in the process. You are doing great!
Keep practicing. Keep striving. The growth is happening.
With love,
