Mary said this year she
might do pictures making it look like she and her
husband are sitting across the table from the person
they are sending the pictures to. Perhaps they will
send pictures showing them “slaving over a hot stove,”
carving the meat, or cutting the pie.
If, on the other hand,
you are blessed to be in good health and have your
family close, consider now, or the first of the year,
inviting your family to an extended family home evening
where you discuss the family road map to success.
In your planning to present a success kit or road
map, what would you include?
Of course the first item
would be desire followed by proper actions,
providing a righteous example with personal obedience
to gospel principles. Even with that firm foundation,
however, there is no guarantee of an easy life free
of problems, or an assurance that your children will
automatically follow your example. So put a giant
red star in front of item number two — earnestly
seek the Lord’s help. Your chances for success
will be greatly increased. And then, despite what
your children or grandchildren do, never give up!
Brookie Dickerson, Diana
Ralphs, and my husband, Larry, helped me put together
some ideas using traffic signs. You could make footprints
from construction paper, and tape them to the floor
of your house in a path, leading from one sign to
the next. Prepare a number of signs so there are enough
for every grandchild. Tell them how many signs to
look for, and ask them to follow the path until they
find every sign. Each grandchild could then choose
his or her favorite sign to read in front of your
group. Ask them to explain why they made that choice.
Here are a few examples
of possible road signs.
- Stop — Don’t become
a casualty. Take the time to stop for personal prayer.
- Give Way — Be sensitive
to the whisperings of the Spirit.
- Travel Info — Tune
in to the scriptures. Hang on to the iron rod—the
word of God.
- Keep Right — Follow
the prophet.
- Reserved Parking —
Family prayer held here each morning and evening.
- Detour — Avoid dangerous
paths. Take the safe route.
- Railroad Crossing
— Look both ways and take notice of your blessings.
- No Passing Zone —
Stay on the Lord’s side.
- Traffic Light — Move
forward in faith and back it up with action.
Note that prayer,
listening to the Spirit, and reading the scriptures
are at the top of the list. Those three items are
critical for your family’s success.
Other signs you might
consider:
- Enter — Family Home
Evening zone each Monday.
- Caution — The family
72-hour kit may be needed this year.
- Wrong Way — There
is no right way to do a wrong thing.
- Construction — Build
an attitude of happiness.
- Speed Limit — Slow
down and enjoy the journey.
- Littering Unlawful
— The Lord’s house is a house of order.
- Blind Curve Ahead
— Life requires faith as you approach and can’t
see beyond the curves.
- Bridge Under Construction
— The way you live can build a bridge for your family
and friends, helping them avoid wrong choices.
- Turn on Your Headlights
— Follow the light, the commandments, and the prophet.
Here are a few other
items you might consider placing on road signs:
- Attend church no matter
what block schedule you are assigned — keep the
Sabbath Day holy.
- Act — don’t just react.
- Cast away fear and
lean on Heavenly Father.
- Pay tithing.
- Act with integrity;
live correct principles.
- Slow down; be quiet,
and remember specific times you felt Heavenly Father’s
comfort, love, and guidance.
- Trust lovingly, allowing
others to exercise their agency to choose right
or wrong and to accept the consequences.
- Acknowledge and assume
your role in any situation, including repenting
for past wrongdoing.
- Make decisions right
now about proper conduct.
- Honor and respect
the priesthood.
- Honor and respect
womanhood.
- Avoid and dismiss
thoughts that might tempt you to do wrong.
- Obey the word of wisdom.
Perhaps you’d like to
make up traffic signs that pertain to your family
specifically. The Internet is a wonderful resource
for traffic sign ideas. Two websites that may be helpful
are: http://www.safetysign.com/
and http://images.google.com/images?q=traffic+signs&hl=en&lr=
&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-14,GGLD:en&sa=X&oi=
images&ct=title.
If your grandchildren
are older, you could make up a number of traffic signs
without success hints printed on them and ask the
grandchildren to make up hints for your signs.
Consider involving your
friends and neighbors and turn the extended Family
Home Evening into a road rally. Ask your grandchildren
to make and bring with them a poster board steering
wheel. You then provide clues that guide them to different
neighbors’ homes (within walking distance). The children
“drive” themselves (using their steering wheels) to
gather the family success road signs from the neighbors.
Make the road signs small, and include a tie or loop,
enabling the grandchildren to fasten the signs to
the steering wheel. The first grandchild back to your
house, having his or her steering wheel filled with
all the proper signs, receives a special memento of
the activity.
I have enjoyed writing
this grandparenting column. This is the seventeenth
article. I’ve loved your responses and learned a great
deal from you — wonderful, Meridian readers. But alas,
due to health problems, I have decided this is my
last article.
If you missed any
of the articles and would like the links, send me
an e-mail (fay@klingler.com)
and I will respond with the list. You will find many
more ideas in The LDS Grandparents’ Idea Book. That
book has been a bestseller and loved by grandparents
across the nation. Many of you have encouraged me
to consider writing a supplement. I may do that in
the future. If you have ideas you want to share or
a specific subject regarding grandparenting you would
appreciate more information on, let me know.
Thank you again for
your wonderful comments and association.
Most sincerely,
Fay Klingler
