Ding dong went the door bell, but before I could restore my modesty (having just fed the baby for the 100th time today) and answer the door, my secret friend had already departed, leaving behind a yummy plate of goodies.

But it’s no secret to me that this dear friend has so much more than cupcakes on her proverbial plate right now. She has a close friend in the hospital who just received a bleak prognosis. She struggles with her own severe health problems. She has four busy, busy children to care for. And that’s just for starters. Yet, true to her charitable nature, she somehow found the time and energy to whip up a batch of gourmet cupcakes for me. 

Thank you, my dear friend–not just for the delicious dessert but for your sweet example of love and service. Tonight, after a long day of feeling not so good about myself, I will go to bed feeling loved.

Following a single adult fireside that BT spoke at last night, Vivi spied the brownies that were being served as refreshments.  I reminded Vivi that we had warm apple crisp at home waiting for us.  I tried to get her to visualize the delectable homemade dessert, topped with smooth vanilla bean ice cream.  I warned her that if she chose the dry, crumbly brownie, she would not be able to have her self-proclaimed favorite treat when she got home.  

Undissuaded was she, so Guppy fetched Vivi a brownie, and we all sat back and waited for the golden teaching moment that would inevitably present itself.

Sure enough.  Upon polishing off the brownie, Vivi promptly changed her mind and decided that she wanted apple crisp.  She begged.  She pleaded.  She cried.  She went to bed knowing that when she had settled on what she wanted at the moment, she sacrified what she wanted most.

As difficult as it was to watch sweet Vivi sorrowfully taste the bitter consequence of her choice, I know that one of my most important responsibilities as the mother of three young children is to help them practice their agency in these early years when the consequences are not life altering.

Free agency gives you the right to choose, but it gives you no immunity from the deprivation and sufferings which wrong decisions bring. Once you have set your feet upon the highway of life, the turning is not easy, especially if that highway be filled with heavy traffic and if it be a downward road.

~ Spencer W. Kimball