I Can Do Hard Things

All you kids know how much I love the phrase, "I Can Do Hard Things."

I even put it on one of our bedroom walls!

So when Dad and I were asked to speak at a retreat for LDS Air Force Cadets this weekend--and were told we could speak about anything we wanted, we chose to speak on the topic of "I Can Do Hard Things."  Shocking, I know.  But we felt it was a good topic because the cadets are doing hard things all the time.

Thanks to lots of great ideas from Ty and Michelle, we tried to make it more interactive, so here are a couple pictures of some of the cadets reviewing scripture stories and identifying principles that help us to do hard things.  (Jayna came with us--bottom left corner.)

Interestingly enough, especially for me, it was a "hard thing" to prepare.  Between traveling, sickness, and back problems, it was a challenging assignment.  But as I studied the scripture stories and identified principles that help us to do hard things--then applied those principles to my circumstances, I found strength and help in fulfilling this assignment with Dad.

Here are some principles I want to share with you.

Faith and trust in the Lord are at the heart of doing hard things.

The ability to qualify for and receive personal revelation gives us confidence to do hard things.

Our knowledge and testimony of eternal truths strengthens us to do hard things.

By making good choices, there are a lot of hard things we will never have to do.

In contrast, there are a lot of hard things we need to choose to do.

Doing hard things prepares us for challenges in the future.

A positive, can-do attitude is a catalyst for doing hard things.

When confronted with hard things, we need to act.

There is purpose in doing hard things.  It is a chance for the Lord to tutor us.

Sometimes it's the easiest things that are the hardest to do.

When you obey with exactness, it give you courage to do hard things.

I need to do the hard things--no matter the consequences.

When we love and serve others, it brings perspective and relief in the midst of hard things.

We need to have a continuous attitude of gratitude as we go though hard things.

At the same time we face hard things and feel sadness because of it, we can simultaneously feel peace and joy.

We don't have to do hard things all on our own.  The power of the Lord is available to help us.

The making and keeping of covenants gives us access to the power of Christ's Atonement--which is the ultimate source of strength and help in doing hard things.

Those were just a few of the principles we identified in various scripture stories.  They helped me--and I hope that as each of you go through the challenges and trials that are unique to you and your family, that they will be a source of strength for you, too.  And I would encourage you, as you do your own personal scripture study, to look for additional doctrines and principles that help you hard things.  Here's a favorite quote we used at the end of the retreat:

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "The Lord will not make it easy, because He loves us too much.  And if we desire to be like his son, Jesus Christ, we must then submit to those experiences which will help us move in that direction.  There is no easy escalator that will take us there.  There are no shortcuts!  In an hundred ways that could be mentioned if there were time and voice, He has beckoned us to become like Him because He loves us, and that love is too pure for Him to let us cut corners."

(The Education of Our Desires, January 5, 1983)

I want you kids to always know that in the strength of the Lord, you can do all things--especially the hard ones.  Love, Mom