Thinking about their answers all week

After giving a Primary lesson last Sunday, I had about 10 minutes leftover so I asked this class of 7
eight year olds a question. I asked them "without mentioning any toys, what was THE VERY 
BEST part of Christmas" for them. 
I explained that it could be something about Christmas day, or the season of Christmas. 
I asked them to sit and think about it for a few moments.
Then I asked for their answers. 
One by one they raised their hands, and this is what they told me:
Kyla said her very best part of the Christmas season was that her Uncle became a doctor. I asked
her what kind of doctor and she said just smiled and shrugged her shoulders. Like it didn't
matter. But she knew her uncle was happy, so she was too. 
Sydney said one day last month she had the thought come to her that maybe she could make a
nativity for her family. So she went upstairs to her bedroom and started cutting up paper to form
the people and the animals. Then she gave it to her mom. That was her best part of Christmas.
Paige explained how her family helped 2 women who lost their husbands this past year and
didn't have much money. She said one of these families have a baby with a brain bleed and the
only way the mother could bath her each day was to get into the bathtub with the baby. So her
family bought her a special bath chair. So now the mother can bath the baby while the baby sits
in this special chair.  I loved watching Paige as she so seriously talked about this baby and the
bath chair it needed.  I know she will never forget this Christmas. 
Cali spoke in a very soft voice so I had to listen closely. She said her Dad passed a really hard test
and now he can teach math. She stopped talking as her eyes became a little misty. So I helped
her finish by asking, "And I bet you were all praying really hard that he would pass that test,
right?" And she quietly said, almost in a whisper, "Yes we were." That was her best part of
Christmas.

Ryan said she had slipped off a rock at Lake Powell and was drowning. Her mother had the
impression to go check on her and found her struggling. Both of her parents jumped in and
saved her life. I think she said this didn’t happen at Christmas time but she still wanted to share it.
She had tears in her eyes. Obviously still very special to her.

Claire said on Christmas morning after going to church, and then coming home to open gifts,
they got to read their scriptures and play a game about the scriptures with her family. That was
her best part of Christmas. 
Shroeder said that every day for 25 days in December, his family got to do something nice for
someone else. He explained how they had this little chart and each day they would look at the
chart and see what they got to do next to help someone. He explained it all in detail and it was
so fun for me to see his eyes light up. He was so into this. 


I've been thinking about their answers all this week. These kids all come from obviously good 
homes. But they are just little kids, and yet, look how much they already know about the joy of 
being happy for others. And they already know how helping others makes them happy.
Another thought I had. So often I think good parents try to come up with memorable experiences 
for their children, but they can't be sure what is sinking in. These kids may not have ever said to 
their parents, “Oh that was such a great idea Mom” or “I’m so glad we got to do this.” or “That 
made me feel so good to help others.” But it was obvious they were thinking all of these things. 

So if I could say anything to these parents, I'd say, keep doing what you are doing. Don't ever give up. This is what life should be all about.

They've been on my mind all week. 

Look what happened last night

  Just a little pre-graduating gathering for our DIL Amy.... Not everyday a Mom of 7 and a Grandma of 7, graduates from college. It was not ...