So many related thoughts are swimming around in my head, and I want to make sense out of them. It being a new year, everyone is talking about goals and resolutions. Some say, "If I make 'em I'll break 'em," and they don't want to set themselves up for failure. I love the little montage in the movie Up where, before they know it, Carl and Ellie are old and they look back and realize that they haven't met their goal of living at Paradise Falls and filling their adventure book with stuff they're going to do.I thought about this while I was sitting in the chapel listening to The Mother of the Year speak. On my left were two or three young mothers who are still in the trenches of raising kids. On my right were two or three old mothers, whose kids have long been on their own. I couldn't help but think that it must be torture for these older women to look back and think about what they should have done! They were good mothers that had done their best, but it seemed too late for them to use any of the practical advice the speaker was giving.
Anyway, what I took away from the movie and from the speech was this: It's never too late, and My best is good enough. It there anyone who doesn't look back with some regret? Is there anyone who's life went exactly as they planned? I don't think so. I believe that setting goals does not set me up for failure, but for success. I know that even though I make mistakes, that my best is good enough when I allow the Savior to step in, and pick up the slack.
So here's to a new year full of dreams, goals, progress, and hope!
