Be your best you by finding the best in others

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Washington Stake, I feel blessed and privileged to share a message with you this beautiful, fall Sabbath day. With so much tumult going on across the nation and world, I've had a lot weighing on my mind about the value of finding the best in others despite so many varying opinions, beliefs, and circumstances.  I've experienced this most recently working in a new school, and meeting kids with a variety of backgrounds and problems. Often, these young kids have circumstances in their lives that are perpetuating emotional or behavioral issues: divorce, physical abuse, lack of food or love, to name a few. A sweet boy I worked with two weeks ago was exhibiting some behaviors in his classroom. The teacher was discouraged, at a loss, and in need of help with managing him. I soon discovered at home he was being physically abused by an older brother, while navigating thoughts of suicide and depression with an older sister. As educators, we continuously ask ourselves how to help these students in a positive way, to help navigate circumstances outside of school. Traditionally, finding the good and building positive relationships are the things that alleviate power struggles, behavioral issues, and judgement in the classrooms. We are a busy people, each in our own way. Some of us are doing our best to navigate life with new babies, young children and teenagers, while others are focused on careers, serving grandchildren, friends and neighbors. How easy it is sometimes to look at those around us and make comparisons or unfair judgements without full context. Just like in education we try to build relationships and find the best in these students, I hope we can also try to do the same with those who surround us in our neighborhoods, wards, and community. We are all doing our best in our individual circumstances, and that's important to remember. No one of us is different than the other in the eyes of our loving Heavenly Father.  It is my prayer that we might all do our best to be a little more kind, a little more humble, and a little more grateful for the diversity of thought and action around us that make us individually unique in our Heavenly Father's eyes.  With Love, Sis. Aubrey Johnson Stake Primary President