As Stake Primary President, I spend each Sunday with children. At
the beginning of the year, I did a lot of traveling to various units
throughout our Stake - from Blairsville, Georgia in the far western
area to Marion and Forest City in the east, and nine other towns
in and around Asheville. It's a busy time and I won't lie - it's totally
exhausting. But I enjoy being with the primary leaders and the children.
After serving for the last ten years in Relief Society and Young Women,
it's all coming back to me how much I love Primary.
Heavenly Father's little ones are precious.
This summer, the travel schedule has become a little lighter and I've loved
being in primary in my home ward. I've had the opportunity to teach this
group of boys for the past month, as I've been helping out my dear friend
Carol. Meet the Valiant 9 class. Two boys were on vacation the Sunday
I took this picture. Yes, it's a class full of boys.
They are studying the New Testament and last week our lesson was on the
Parable of the Sheep and Goats found in Matthew 25. We talked about what
it will be like when Jesus comes again and how he will separate nations as a
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. We had a lively discussion
about these two groups of animals and whom each represent.
Why will Jesus be separating the sheep from the goats and what is the main
difference between them? And what do these animals have to do with
helping people who are sick or hungry or thirsty? At first they seemed
a little confused, but when they remembered that Jesus taught important
lessons to those who had "spiritual understanding", by using objects such
as talents, oil, sheep and goats, they were ready to see those animals for
what they really were; groups of people who either loved Jesus and served
him or those who loved the things of the world more.
The passage says that those who loved Jesus gave food to the hungry, drink
to the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick and the prisoners. And by
doing so, it was as if they were doing it unto Him.
"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt. 25:40
These were the actions of the righteous- the sheep, and they were found on
the right hand of God at the second coming, where they would inherit the
kingdom prepared for them.
We talked about the many ways Jesus served others and how we can serve
as He did. They had some great ideas - cleaning out their closets and giving
clothes to people who needed them, preparing food to take to people who
might be hungry, helping their parents at home with their younger brothers
and sisters, and visiting the sick. I challenged them to find ways that week to
practice being "sheep". After the cacophony of animal sounds subsided,
they came up with a really good idea.
Their primary teacher Sister Mischenko (my friend Carol), has been quite
ill and they wanted to do something for her. "Could we go to her house
and do some service?", they asked. I loved it! They were thinking like
sheep.
Carol is one of the best primary teachers I've ever known. She's served
in primary for years (she taught three of my children) and takes her calling
very seriously. Spending hours each week preparing her lessons, she brings
a love for the Savior and an enthusiasm for his gospel into her classroom
and it is contagious. These young boys are catching it. As baptized
members of the church, they want to be like Jesus and Carol is helping
to teach them what that looks like.
On this day, it was a joy for me to watch these boys spend time with their
teacher and feel the blessings that came from serving her.
They worked hard weeding her flower beds.
After a few lessons on what were weeds and what were flowers, they did
a great job.
Always the encourager, Sister Mischenko remained close by and talked
with the boys as they worked.
She had chocolate chip cookies, pink lemonade and watermelon for them
to enjoy while they took a break. Big hit, big, big hit!
After the beds were weed free, they spent time looking for four leaf clovers in
her yard.
Mission accomplished.
Don't they look pleased with themselves? Oh, I hope they can hold on to
that good feeling that comes from serving others. Who knows what the Lord
has in store for these valiant boys? I suspect it will be a great work.
Whenever I spend time with children I'm reminded why the Lord tells
us that we must become like them in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.
They are humble, teachable, loving, forgiving and eager to do good. I can
learn from their example.
*MYOF Goals - #22 - Study the New Testament
#44- Give 50 hours of service
