When faced with life's challenges,
it is Important to Remember
that although Daniel was saved from the lions,
he was not saved from the Lion's Den.


Monday, February 1, 2010

We are all imperfect

When we cannot change a situation, resolution comes through the way we choose to handle it within ourselves. Sometimes, choosing correctly is the hardest thing to do.
I had a customer the other day. He came into the office and was just totally disagreeable. You know, the kind of person that really makes you want to pull all your hair out! (or at least run away somewhere else, the Bahamas maybe! :-))
Anyway, this gentleman had a problem, but he wasn't willing to listen to the explanation or the answer. He just wanted to tell me how I needed to do my job and what he would do if I did not do it his way.
I really do not like threats and I ended up reacting instead of keeping my cool. I wish I could say that I handled everything perfectly. I wish I could say that I knew just what to do. However, I did not. I got angry back at him, slammed the door, and went into my office and sulked. Yes I did. Then I went home and had myself a good cry because I felt so bad about reacting to him instead of behaving the way I know I should. Sometimes, I think that is the worst punishment of all. When you know how you should have handled a problem but you did not do it at the time. I was frustrated and ashamed of myself.
He came in a couple of days later and I swallowed my pride and apologized to him. I then brought him into the office and showed him how things were done behind the scenes and what I had implemented to fix the problem before he ever came in the first time. I handled it better that time around and I think, we are on good terms now.
We all make mistakes like that. The ones where we use our emotions to handle the problem instead of our hearts and our heads. The times when we forget that the person we are dealing with is a child of God and needs and deserves our love and respect even if they are not acting like it. Sometimes, we all make mistakes.

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket but into your own."

Remember, at all times we are witnesses for Jesus Christ.  We can and should act accordingly.  Remember that we are each responsible for our own actions.  No one else makes decisions for us.  We have our free agency to make them ourselves.  Nobody has the power to make you behave in a certain way unless you willingly give them that power.  I hope that each one of you are successful in making your own part of the world a better place.  Remember, we can't change everything, but we can and should change things within our direct sphere of influence.  We can make the world a better place by living more like our Savior each and every day.  This is one of my favorite quotes.  I hope it influences you to be what you need to be. 
As for me, I am hanging it in my office!
"You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good for something. The world must be a better place for your presence. And that good that is in you must be spread to others. I do not suppose that any of us here will be remembered a century from now. But in this world so filled with problems, so constantly threatened by dark and evil challenges, you can and must rise above mediocrity, above indifference. You can become involved and speak with a strong voice for that which is right. You cannot be indifferent to a great cause. You cannot simply stand on the sidelines and watch the play between the forces of good and evil". ("Stand Up for Truth." 22-23).
Gordon B. Hinckley

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for the timely reminder, Patty. Your blog is always uplifting and positive. You genuinely make a difference!

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  2. Thanks Stef, I really try. I think I have found something that I really love to do!

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  3. What member was not inspired by Pres. Hinckley? What a great man! That post was good for my soul. You gave me a little lesson on humility today and I shall remember it as i deal with a member who keeps a poor attitude with my family.

    May

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  4. The problem with gaining humility for me, is that it always manages to be embarrassing! Oh well, maybe my own mistakes will keep someone else from doing the same thing!

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