Making the connection to Jesus

Something I've been thinking about:

As a child, you go to church and learn about Jesus. But you're taken care of and protected by your parents. You don't have much need for a Savior.

All of a sudden, at 12 or 15 or 19, life happens.

As a parent, how do you get your child to sync that
(1)the daily problems in their real life
and
(2)what you've been trying to teach about the redeeming and enabling power of the Atonement and Jesus' Way
go hand in hand?

It's probably a life-time process, but there's a fragile time for some young people before they begin to "get it." Why?

Pinewood Derby 2012

A most unusual thing happened at the Pinewood Derby this year...

Aaron won his first three heats!
He wasn't very happy about it, though. It was funny to see him come away from the second and third races so disappointed about his wins...then to see him so relieved when he only got second place in his fourth heat.


He ended up in 6th place and was just fine with that.
This boy doesn't have a competitive bone in his body, apparently.
I think he's so tender-hearted that he can't stand to be the reason that anyone else would feel like a loser. Very interesting.

At Parent Teacher Conferences, Aaron's teacher (who has taught five of the other kids) asked him if he feels pressure to measure up to all his older siblings. He looked at her blankly--didn't have a clue what she was talking about.

What a great character trait--to accept yourself for who you are and not worry about comparing yourself to anyone else.