When Times are Tough

When I heard that McKenna's parents gave this book to their 6 adult children for Christmas, I became very interested to learn what was so special about it. 

So I got myself a copy a read a chapter each evening for 5 days...to make it last, because it was that good. 

John Bytheway has a gift of saying things that make sense.  Phrases that make one think.  


Here are some of my favorites from his book:

"While it's true that adults produce children, it's also true that children produce adults. 

For example, nothing will take the selfishness out of a parent  faster than a sick or injured child.  

When a tiny one is hurting, all self-centered desires depart at warp speed

"If God wants us to serve one another in anonymous ways, 

I suspect he may bless us and protect us without our knowledge as well."   (I had never quite thought of it this way before. )

"President Harold B. Lee made a prophetic statement in 1972: "Satan's greatest threat today is to destroy the family, and to make a mockery of the law of chastity and the sanctity of the marriage covenant."  

He said this 38 years ago.  

"If someone were to ask whether communication skills or meekness is most important to a marriage,
I'd answer meekness, hands down.  
You can be a superb communicator but still never have the humility to ask, "Is it I?"

"When meekness is present, miracles can happen.  
One marriage counselor observed, 
"I have learned over the years that if I can ever get a couple to apologize to each other, the other problems seem to melt away."

"Satan is a liar, 
and he teaches that real happiness comes from doing whatever you want to do and in giving in to every desire."  

"A University of Iowa study revealed that the average 2 year old receives 432 negatively oriented statements a day to 32 positive ones." 

"Praise is one thing we shouldn't keep to ourselves.  
In fact, President Benson taught that withholding praise is a sign of pride."

"Children who feel praised and recognized for their efforts as well as their deeds, 
try harder to do even better."

"When something wonderful happens to you,  who is the first person you want to share it with?  
Your answer reveals which relationships are the most important to you."  

"Sometimes I've wondered if the things I pray about are too trivial or too unimportant when compared with everything else going on in the world.  
At least I used to think that until I had my own children. 
Now I think differently.  
If something is important to my 5 year old, it's important to me, no matter what other problems are on my mind."

"Someone once remarked that atheists don't find God for the same reason bank robbers don't find police officers.  
They don't want to see them.  
They work hard not to see them. 
But that doesn't mean they don't exist. "

"Margaret Thatcher observed, "Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end.  
It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing, 
it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."