Looking for the Good

by Michele Boy | June 12, 2025

It is mid June with a little over five weeks until the County Fair starts. We have a 4-H meeting today after we did barn chores, I took a walk, and my daughter had basketball practice and helped with our local vacation bible school. 
 This part of parenting is running around making sure my daughter has everything, is where she needs to be, and I get to field how much she wants to add to her already busy schedule. 
 We spent Sunday and Monday at our favorite livestock camp. It is a great time with a great message. It’s a lot of work but a lot of fun. But I am not in my teens. LOL. I am tired. I am following behind fueled up on vitamins, coffee, and some sports drinks. 
  I wouldn’t change anything except I would love a bit more of her energy. 
  During the devotional at camp, the leader challenged the kids and the adults to write down three things you are grateful for daily. I like it because it helps keep your mind looking for the good. 
But the second the meeting was over, I heard tons of grumbling. It made me sad because I think they missed the point or maybe were so busy with lists in their head, they didn’t even hear it. 
  Did I mention my daughter tried golf and fell in love with the sport? I am happy but also laughing because lets add to the mix of places I need to get her to. 
  I love her enthusiasm for life. But sometimes her focus gets off too, just like the rest of us. What is going on behind the scenes? How are you talking to your kids? 
 I am blessed to have people in my corner who help me see the progress. 
 A couple longtime golfers told me golf is not a linear game. You don’t get better every game. You can have a great game then a terrible one. But keep practicing and moving in the right direction and you will see progress. 
 At livestock camp, a lot of the people she knows well walked away with banners. While it burned for a moment, it was important she saw the progress she made. And also to remember her why. We like banners and buckles don’t get me wrong. But I love her learning and understanding how to care for livestock. I like her understanding the commitment and responsibility it takes to feed, care for, and nurture them. 
She had leveled up this year at camp. And as much as she loves her animals, life is more involved now. Time management and focus are the new challenges for us. 
And while many can say we are doing too much, I won’t disagree. But I like the idea of her trying everything and sifting through to see what she wants to focus on. So as messy as it looks and as crazy as we are running around, it is temporary. 
  It is also a good reminder for me and all of us. What goals do you have? What do you do when obstacles come and you are discouraged? Do you remind yourself progress doesn’t always look like a line from A to B? 
 What is your attitude behind what you are doing? I didn’t learn some of these key points until later in my life. I quit things often thinking what is the point? 
 Attitude, perseverance, respect for the ones who are doing better than you, and learning are all important. And most of all gratitude. 
  Three things I am grateful for this morning. 1. I got a walk with my friend. 2. I got a couple of household chores done early. 3. I have work that is flexible enough that I can get my daughter to a livestock camp, or to a practice. 
I honestly could go on and on. Some days gratitude can take more work. But if my focus is on what is good, then I look for the good.