2017 family theme

 

In 2016, our family's focus was the Six B's spoken about by Gordon B. Hinckley. We recited the 6 B's every monday night at family home evening and tried to incorporate them into some of our lessons and discussions throughout the year. We started the year off strong with our family goals, but after a few months in I think we all forgot that we were even planning on setting goals that year! I know that when we were deciding on our 2017 theme, for the life of me, I could not remember if we had even set any family goals in 2016. Thank goodness for this blog so I could eventually go back and check to remember! Some years are better than others.

I sat down a few weeks ago to brainstorm my thoughts for our focus in 2017. After praying, I made a list of thoughts, words, and scriptures that came to my mind. My mind kept settling on something to do with the word "courage." Eric and I talked about a few different ideas. But it wasn't until the day before we presented our theme to our kiddos that we settled on a phrase and a scripture.

Our 2017 family focus is  Have Courage, and Be Kind

and Alma 53:20-21  

20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

 21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.

This phrase "Have courage and Be Kind" was the trendy latest-thing after the Cinderella movie came out so we hesitated to use it for fear it had been over used. We like the idea of carving our own path around here and not jumping on a bandwagon. But there was no way around it, the phrase was simple and to the point and exactly what we want to focus on this year.

Our goals this year are focused directly on this theme and have more to do with our character, our actions, and our thoughts.

Have Courage and Be Kind

2017 family goals

Have courage

-to try new things

-to stand for the right

-to be friendly

-to act

-to face your fears

-to be honest

-to show up

-to be involved

-to care

-to develop and share your talents

-to choose the unpopular, but right, choice

-to follow your heart

-to communicate clearly

-to look everyone in the eye

-to say “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong”

Be Kind

-notice others

-give compliments

-hold the door for others

-show empathy

-give hugs

-smile

-be generous

-show gratitude

-say please and thank you

-say “I’m sorry” and be quick to forgive

-stay calm

-use a pleasant tone of voice

-put others before yourself

-don’t argue

-assume everyone is trying their best

-give the benefit of the doubt

-to yourself

When we presented the theme to our kids and talked together about what it means, I also found this quote that I just love. I read that this was on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta and it is based on writing published by Kent Keith. It's hanging on our quote board right now.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  

Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

So there you have it. We are ready for 2017!