Sweet Lessons Taught To Us By Our Children

Today I was taught a valuable lesson by our sweet little four year old. As part of the LDS faith, when we attend church the second and third hour of church are set aside for the adults to go to their designated classes and the children to attend what we call Primary. Primary is set up specifically for the teaching of little children. Today our little daughter was taught about the principle of agency. They played a game in which the children were given scenarios where they would have to make a right or wrong choice. If they chose the right choice they would get to pick a ballon with a happy face. If they chose the wrong choice they would pick a ballon with a sad face.

You may wonder what this has to do with the lesson I was taught by our daughter. When I came home my daughter immediately began to teach me all about this lesson and what it means to make a right choice. She told me that "she went to the grocery store to buy peanut butter and her friend asked her to steal a candy bar." She then told me with all the excitement in the world that she told her friend no and she was making a happy choice.

I was very touched and at that moment I realized that although she is only four the principles and things that we teach our children are remembered. It may not seem that way when we are trying to teach our children to clean up the toys or not to hit their sibling, but I am confident that when we are trying our best to teach our children the correct princples that God wants them to know they will remember. With the help of our Heavenly Father our children will remember those important lessons we are trying to teach.

I love the picture above because it illustrates that out of all of the people Christ needed to teach while he was on the earth, he needed to teach the children. He took the time to teach the children the important lessons that will lead them back to our Heavenly Father. Christ said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."   
-Matthew 18:3-4.

To all those parents out their struggling with their kids young or old, I say turn to the Savior and teach them the lessons taught by him. God is aware of every last child on this earth. He is aware of their struggles and challenges. He is also aware of their parents and their dilligent efforts in striving to teach their children. I would also say that he is aware of all of the parents not striving to teach them the important lessons taught by Christ. I promise that God will assist every parent in teaching those principles of righteousness to their kids by helping them remember. The joy that comes with seeing your children make good choices when you are not around will be overwhelming knowing that you took the time to teach them.