Family is so important to me!

I’m the Mama in my wonderful family. I’m the sister and daughter in my extended family. I am also an aunt, grandma, cousin, sister, and sister-in-law.

I love my family, all of them.

Do I always agree with them? Not always. I learned a long time ago that I can only change myself. One thing I can do to change myself is that every time someone is not acting, or choosing, in a way that I would act or choose, I remind myself not to worry about that. I can’t change other people. I can love them no matter what, though. I know for sure that I don’t know everything. I’m don’t have all the answers, and I’m not always right. But, I have experienced a lot, and when I see another person headed a direction in life that I have been, with “not so fun” results, I want to stop them, or at least warn them. I have also learned that sometimes people need to learn a lesson for themselves. No matter what you say, if you say anything, they will continue on the course they are on until they realize it’s not where they want to be. They can’t just decide not to go there, they have to go there, and then decide that they don’t want to stay there!

Since I have learned that you can’t change other people, I have been able to relax and not worry about them as much and just love them. I know and respect that they have been given the gift to choose. To me it is a little harder to relax and not worry when the person choosing something that I wouldn’t choose is someone the I love, because I do love them. I had a good friend tell me once, when my oldest was headed off to junior high, “Joy, you’re not the only one who loves him.” What she meant to me is that Heavenly Father loves all of us. He will help us as we go through life. We must have faith that they will be ok. That Father will help them just like He has helped me in my life.

So what if you are out in the world, dealing with people who are not family?

What if you are driving? Do you let others choices make you crazy? DON’T. It will well up inside you and

naughty words will come out of your mouth.

Start singing a hymn. Tell them you love them. Even if they can’t hear you. If someone is driving you nuts in your life, pray for them. Or even better, pray for yourself. Ask Father to help you to learn to love that person the way He loves them. I have done this and I know it works.

Always remember that others are placed in our lives for a reason. They are a blessing, or could be a blessing, in your life even if they are just there to teach you patience and be an example of what not to do.

Bottom line, you can’t change other people, but you can change yourself.