Practice make Perfect...

The other day I ran into a friend who I haven’t seen in ages. While playing catch up about our children she commented on our eldest son who is doing a surgical residency.  She asked, “And where is Scott practicing?”  The way she pronounced practicing it sounded as if he was only practicing what he had learned.  The word practice could take on a dual meaning depending upon the intonation of your voice, one referring to the medical profession as an occupation and the other as trying to do something.  I had to chuckle thinking of my own misinterpretation of her vocal inflection while visualizing my son practicing surgery by trial and error. Not a good idea!  My son did make the comment to me that when he walked into the first day of his surgical residency all the book learning in the world could not make up for his lack of experience in the hospital.  Both are needed, the book learning for the foundation and the experience of applying gained knowledge.

The impression came to me later as I thought back on my friend’s question that, in fact, aren’t we all really practicing in some way or another what we have learned.  How many times have I heard someone say, “I was too uptight with my older children” or “If I were to do it again, I would do it differently” or “I didn’t get it right until my younger ones came along”.   Most often we learn by doing something over and over again.  Error is an acceptable part of life.  I see this in raising children.  I am not a perfect parent.  My children are not perfect children yet we love and encourage them to practice the principles that we teach until they become proficient in their tasks and assignments. Do we not learn from a book or example first and then practice what we learn?  From every Gospel principle to skills around our home or at work we learn first from books and examples then move on to practice and experience.

As I look back at the different phases of life we all go through I recognize trial and error in every aspect. It is a pleasure to know that I have finished several phases of life and I can now watch my own children go though some of the same exact growth experiences that I went through.  I’ve often wondered how much our Heavenly Father enjoys watching us?  With a sense of humor He probably enjoys observing us as teenagers, knowing that the day will come when we will have teens going though the same experiences that we had a hard time with.  But it is practice and experience that makes us better parents.  We have been there!  Can you imagine saying to your children? “Hey, go out and party…Sure, you can stay out all night…don’t worry about school! It’s boring anyway…etc.”  We have gained an understanding of life through our own practicing and those experiences bring both an enlightenment and compassion into our parenting skills.

Your children inspire me as I hear of them practicing correct principles.  It reminds me of the time when one of my boys came home from the junior prom.  He related to me the sad tale of his friend who was ditched all night by his date.  His friend, not knowing how to handle the situation being inexperienced (unpracticed) in this area, hung out with my son and his date most of the night.  The three of them had a great time!  The gratification in this story came at the last dance.  My son’s date learned over to him and asked, “Would you mind if I danced with “John”?  I feel so sorry for him.”  Empathizing with the situation my son gladly agreed and the evening was somewhat saved for “John”.  He recognized that someone understood his predicament and valued his well-being.  This young lady should have a gold star put on her forehead!  Somewhere along the line of practicing at life she was not only taught well but also practiced what she had been taught.  The day will come when the young lady who ditched her date, will have children.  Maybe she will then remember this incident and feel remorse for her actions, wanting her own child not to be treated in the manner she so long ago had treated her date.  Both girls will have learned the same principle in totally different ways and at different times.

I marvel at the wisdom of our Father.  “Practice Makes Perfect” is a true statement.  I am just glad that we have been given the chance to try and try again until we get it right and a Father who understands that it might take several tries before we achieve success.   He is more forgiving than we are when it comes to trial-and-error learning.  Humm…being more forgiving… now that is one of His many characteristics we should all practice!