LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD

I WOULD PLEAD THAT LIFE, NOT LOVE, IS A BATTLEFIELD.

EACH DAY I FIND MYSELF CONTINUALLY CHALLENGED, CONSISTENTLY CONFRONTED WITH CURVE BALLS AND UNIQUE SITUATIONS THAT I ALONE HAVE TO NAVIGATE. SOMETIMES I TAKE THE WISDOM OF PARENTS AND ROLE MODELS, CHURCH DOCTRINE AND INSPIRATION TO GOVERN MY RESPONSES. OTHER TIMES, I SUCCUMB TO THAT NATURAL IDIOT LIVING INSIDE ME THAT ALWAYS WANTS THE EASY AND SELFISH WAY OUT.

IF YOU'RE A TEACHER, YOU BETTER MAKE DARN SURE YOU'RE A GOOD DECISION MAKER- THAT YOU'LL CHOOSE TO BE THE PATIENT AND WISE RESPONDER RATHER THAN THE SELFISH AND IMPATIENT REACTOR. BECAUSE EVEN YOUR MOST FAVORITE STUDENTS CAN PRESS YOUR BUTTONS IF THEY CATCH YOU ON JUST THE RIGHT DAY.

SO IT IS WITH LIFE- A CONSTANT BATTLE TO CHOOSE THE GOOD, TO DWELL ON THE POSITIVE, TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD AND SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE.

LAST NIGHT AS I LAY NEXT TO BJ AND READ MY BOOK OF MORMON, I READ ABOUT HAPPINESS BEING RESTORED TO THOSE WHO DESIRE HAPPINESS.

"AND NOW...IS THE MEANING OF THE WORD RESTORATION TO TAKE A THING OF A NATURAL STATE AND PLACE IT IN AN UNNATURAL STATE, OR TO PLACE IT IN A STATE OPPOSITE TO ITS NATURE?...THIS IS NOT THE CASE...FOR THAT WHICH YE DO SEND OUT SHALL RETURN UNTO YOU AGAIN...THE ONE RAISED TO HAPPINESS ACCORDING TO HIS DESIRE OF HAPPINESS." ALMA 41

THIS SCRIPTURE CONFIRMED SOMETHING I ALWAYS HAVE KNOWN,

IF YOU WANT HAPPINESS- YOU'VE GOTTA MAKE IT.

HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE.

I DESIRE HAPPINESS, AND I ALWAYS WILL.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE DAYS WHEN THAT HAPPINESS COMES EASILY- BUT FOR THE DAYS WHEN IT DOESN'T, DAYS LIKE THIS LAST MONDAY...UGGHH- WE'VE GOTTA DO OUR BEST TO EARN IT.

THIS, TO ME, IS THE EVER-PRESENT CHALLENGE OF LIFE. WHAT WILL I DO WITH TODAY? WILL I HAVE A HEART FULL OF GRATITUDE OR MURMURING? WILL I CHOOSE TO LOVE OR TO BE IRRITATED? WILL I LOOK AT MY BLESSINGS AND DECIDE TO REJOICE AND BE HAPPY, OR GET HUNG UP IN THE INSIGNIFICANT ANNOYANCES OF THE DAY TO DAY? 

I THINK THAT LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD. I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE FIGHT IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE EACH DAY COUNT.

AND I KNOW, THAT HAPPINESS, IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR.