Tender Mercies

 



I am a primary teacher to the 6 & 7 year old kids at my church. To add to that, there's usually about 12 kids in my class. As you can imagine, getting them to listen feels like it's nearly impossible. This past week was my turn to teach & I was feeling a little discouraged. My lesson was on "Being Pure & Righteous" & I felt even more discouraged when I was reading through the lesson manual. It wanted me to list TV shows that might not be appropriate & talk about scenarios such as a kid at recess offering them cigarettes.
When I was 6 did I even know what cigarettes were??

 

At the start of class I usually let them talk about something that they did during the past week to get out some of their energy. The kids were all so excited about Halloween I let them tell the other kids what their costumes were. While they were talking we started hearing screams and loud noises coming from the hall. As I looked in the doorway there was a mother with her severely handicap child in a wheelchair that completely strapped her in. This sweet young mother told me her daughter would be joining our class. "This is Lori. She doesn't speak, she likes to hear music, and she likes being wheeled around. I'll be downstairs if you need me." As her mother walked out the loud screams & grunts continued from the girl visiting our class. My heart broke as some of the kids looked scared and shifted seats away from sweet Lori. My heart pounded as I smiled at Lori & told her how glad we were to have her visiting our class.

 

I'm so thankful for my team teacher who so gracefully approached the situation by again introducing Lori to our class. "As you can see, Lori has a different body than ours. Our Heavenly Father loves Lori so much & gave her sweet spirit to this body. He loves her so much & he wants us to love her too! It may get hard to hear Sister Gordon with some of the noises she makes. I want you to focus really hard on listening to Sister Gordon as well as listening to The Spirit..."

My class relaxed quite a bit and was still.

 

Through the lesson at times I had to speak a little louder to make sure the class could hear me over her noises. Not once did I have to ask my class to listen, sit in their seats or pay attention like I usually do. We talked about being Pure & Righteous and setting an example to friends, family, classmates & people all around us. We talked about the meaning behind CTR (Choose the Right) & why we have CTR rings. "We use our hands SO much throughout the day. Most of the time we use our hands without thinking. When we look down at our hands we see our CTR rings which reminds us to choose the right.." One of the kids said, "Look! Lori is clapping her hands!" I looked over to see Lori grinning from ear to ear clapping her hands.

"Great listening Lori! We are talking about our hands!"

 

Towards the end of the lesson Lori started screaming and crying. My team teacher softly touched her hand and asked if she wanted to wheel around and took her in the hall to wheel her back and forth. As the door shut behind them my heart felt full. My class was still reverent with their arms folded. I told them how proud I was of them for being so reverent and showing Lori how great Primary is. I let them know how special they are to me for setting a good example for Lori and how thankful I was to them for listening to the lesson.

They lined up at the door to go to sharing time and every single child walked reverently down the hall with their arms folded which is exact opposite scenario from every other Sunday.

 

As we got to Sharing Time a little boy in my class tapped my arm and quietly asked if he could go in the front to set an example. Tears welled up in my eyes as the sweetest little 6 year old boy reverently stood in front of the entire Primary to set an example.
I was so proud!

 

As I had prepared a lesson on being Pure & Righteous my sweet 6 & 7 year old kids taught me a different lesson. The Lord is so aware of each and every one of us. He loves me & you just like he loves Lori and these sweet innocent kids. The Lord knew how discouraged I was feeling about not getting through to these kids. They showed me yesterday they really do listen & they are so sweet & compassionate.

 

I hope more often than not I can be like these sweet kids & love everyone around me.

I am so thankful for these small sweet Tender Mercies..
Be still my soul

 

XOXO

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Fulfill your dreams

 

 

Since it's General Conference weekend I thought I would post one of my favorite quotes from a Conference talk by Jeffery R. Holland.

I'm really looking forward to watching conference! (I mean.. a killer breakfast, watching church on TV. All cozied up in my jammies. On my couch. Does life get better??)

If any of you have questions about what General Conference is, you can find some answers HERE! You can also find more information about what I believe HERE!

Happy Friday!
xoxo


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Primary Class

Missing a few kids in this picture..

Last Sunday was my last week as a Primary teacher to the CUTEST 4 year olds I've ever seen.

This made me beyond sad.
The funniest things I've ever heard from children came from these kids.

EVERY WEEK was hilarious with these kids!

Last week was technically supposed to be the last Sunday in our home ward. With Spencer working at Halliburton when we first got married the Bishop told us to stay in our home ward until he was finished living in Vernal so I wasn't going to a new ward by myself..

BUT today Fatalie sang in Sacrament meeting soo that meant we just stayed for the rest of the block.

Sitting in Sunday school I could hear the Primary singing in the next room. I could especially hear one little girl in my class- she is HARD to miss!!

When church was over a few of the kids ran and found me in the hall to show me the pictures they colored. Their genuine love and tight tight hugs will never get old..

I sure will miss those little muchkins!!



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Little Prayers

In Primary last week my lesson was on Prayer and how we can pray for anything. For part of my lesson I planned to ask the 6 kids in my class what are some of the things we pray for?

Keep in mind I teach the 4 year olds. So I was expecting answers like "when we are scared" "to bless the food" "to say thank you"

... you get the point...

I asked, "What are some of the things we pray for..?"
the SWEETEST little girl jumped up and shouted "FOR YOU TO HAVE A BABY!!!!"

Heaven help me. The other teachers in my class and I about DIED.

 she continued to say, "you play and play and play then get a baby in your tummy!"

The conversation stopped there as I seriously could hardly go on teaching the rest of the lesson..

For everyone's info, we are NOT praying for a baby right now haha but I appreciate the little prayers from my 4 year old Primary Class. I have the best calling in the world. 

You have read this article church / hilarious with the title church. You can bookmark this page URL https://trendcelebrity2014.blogspot.com/2012/06/little-prayers.html. Thanks!

Encouragement.

How can anyone look at the kind face of this sweet man and not feel encouragement?

..A push to do a little better, a reason to be a little more faithful?

As the saying goes, "when it rains it pours" could not be more true.

I feel like I've had the heaviest load placed upon my shoulders in so many different aspects of my life, and I'm so thankful for a loving husband who understands and stands by my side.

"When life gets tough to stand, Kneel" -Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

I'm letting it go, and putting my trust in the Lord.

I found this quote today and decided to lean on its meaning today..

"God has a reason for allowing things to happen. We may never understand his wisdom, but we simply have to trust his will."

I am SO excited about General Conference this weekend. I cannot wait to hear more encouraging words from such great leaders.

We are so blessed.

Happy Friday everyone!

xoxo

You have read this article church / faithful with the title church. You can bookmark this page URL https://trendcelebrity2014.blogspot.com/2012/03/encouragement.html. Thanks!