A Little Bit of Happy: Be as a Little Child

So many things on a Sabbath day make me smile and happy. Taking the sacrament, listening to testimonies, feeling the spirit are just a few things, but for the last couple of Sundays and for probably a few more I have been subbing as a pianist for the Primary (a Sunday school for children ages 4ish?-11). I love it. Don't get me wrong, I love going to the adult Gospel Doctrine class and all, but there is something about playing for the kids that just makes me melt. Primary children have the ability to bring out the spirit in the best way. (not to be confused with the few mishaps that happen to argue to the contrary)

Kids, especially the youngest ones, are so incredibly funny. They each have their own personalities, and probably because they aren't my children I find them all very sweet. We have the ones who are very gentle, quiet, sit very still, and will raise their hands. There are those who will sit quietly until it comes to singing, and they will belt the song out. Their whole body gets into it, especially when you have sign language added to the mix. You have those who are somewhere in the middle. They want to sit quietly and behave, but eventually they have to wiggle. We have children who are so shy, they spend their time hiding their faces behind their hands. Then you have the kids who just do not want to be in primary. They won't sing or participate in anything. These are the kids who will want to spend the whole time talking, and the teacher is spending the whole time shushing them. In the meantime, I being behind the piano, can smile and laugh.

This video is the best that I found that illustrates a couple of these personalities. The spirit they are conveying is beautiful, but watch the kids themselves. Some of them are really having a hard time standing still. My favorite is a boy in an orange tie around the 2:48-2:50 mark. He has his hands in his armpits. HAHAHA!! (I am sorry to the mother of this child. I took great delight in this. You were probably mortified.)

When I looked at the faces of the children in Primary today, I could see such sweet innocence. They are so smart, and the littlest ones were so kind and generous to help the leader carry things so she could set up for her lesson. The older kids helped, but it wasn't as quick. I had the thought of why aren't we all like that? As a child we are trusting, loving, and willing to lend an awkward tiny hand, even the shy ones. Unfortunately, as these children get older, as we get older, they will become less trusting, less willing. There was a movie that came out in 1993 called House of Cards. There is a comment made by Kathleen Turner's character about when her son was born, and she looked into his eyes, she could see everything. She saw intelligence, and that it was like he knew everything that there was to know. However, with each second that "knowledge" was slipping away. That was how I felt today. These babies come into the world innocent, full of life, love, and open to the wonders of the world. Then with each passing moment that innocence quietly slips away.

There is a reason why Jesus tells us so many times to become as little children. Matthew 18:3 "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." This is because of their innocence, and their willingness and open hearts and minds to learn. They are humble enough to learn as we should be.

I saw this in those little children today as I accompanied their sweet voices. I loved every minute of it. Seeing these children gave me hope for the world. It made me happy. With all the sorrows and the devastating events in the world, these children are our future, and I can see their potential to make it better. I just pray they can keep their innocence for just a few moments more. They don't have the cares that we adults do. It is their time to live, enjoy life and to wiggle and giggle as much as possible before they become too lazy and/or tired.

Now just a few more pictures that does my heart good. Picture of my nieces and nephews from my family and from Hubs' family (disclaimer, I do not own any of these pics. I did not obtain permission from the families to which these pics belong to, so I hope they are okay with me stealing them. Also there are a few nieces and nephews I am missing. Sadly, I have no way of getting those pictures.) I just love these kids. Yes my oldest nephew is still a kid to me. :) In some of these pics, you can really see their personalities. Doesn't it just make you want to hug and kiss them all? ... Maybe that is just me.