A Prayer of Faith

The other day, while my daughter was off at the stables, my four-year-old son and I had sat down to lunch. Between bites of pbj, and gabbing about everything form legos to his bike, he very suddenly and very earnestly asked, “Mamma, why was Joseph in jail?”

His question caught me off guard, and so, just to be sure, I asked him, “Which Joseph?”

“Joseph Smith.”

The consternation was clearly visible on his face. In his developing sense of the how the world works, only bad guys go to jail, and I could see he was having a very hard time with the thought that the Prophet had been where bad guys go. I want my children to feel secure in the world, to trust that the justice system ‘works,’ that it will keep them safe, and so I hate to have to explain that the unfortunate characteristics of human nature, such as fallibility and the capability for dishonesty sometimes get in the way.
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Rebekah (4 yrs) had her first ballet recital on Friday. She made us laugh when she periodically went into turbo speed during her routine. While we were at the recital, Daniel introduced me to a colleague from work just as my wrap around pants fell off!

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After leaving a friend’s house, David (5 yrs) told me: “I’m sick and tired of not being able to make my own choices. I can’t choose when I leave or when I go. I can’t choose whether I clean my room or not. I want to move out!”

Me: “I would be really sad if you moved out. I really enjoy having you live with me. How would you move out anyway?”

David: “I would need a house, so I’d need money; I guess I’ll get a job.”

Me: “Do you think a 5 year old can get a job?”

David, laughing: “No! I guess I’ll just have to build my own house. Don’t worry mom, I’ll just build it across the stream.”

I wonder what life will be like when he actually reaches his teenage years?

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Lenora’s 18-month appointment revealed that she is in the 100% for height and weight. . . .

David (5 yrs) loves discussing superheroes and their powers. Recently he asked me: “Why doesn’t God give us superpowers? I mean, he wants us to be like Him, right?” I didn’t realize that James had associated God’s omnipotence and omniscience with superheroes and their powers. . .

Rebekah (3 yrs) and I were discussing the meaning of the word “popular” today. When I told her that it means that a lot of people like you she said: “I don’t think Satan is popular because he makes bad choices, but I know that God is. Everyone loves God.” This discussion followed her question: “Why does God create tornados when people get sucked up in them?” I’m glad she still feels Heavenly Father is popular despite his lack of obvious interference in some natural disasters.

“Mamma,” my then-seven-year-old daughter said to me, “I need more loves from you.”

“Sweetie, you keep saying this at the end of the day. It’s time for sleeping now; we need our rest. I keep trying to give you more loves during the day, but you just shake me off and keep playing. Now, it’s late; it’s bedtime.”

“I know,” she sighed.

“I’m always happy to hold you and cuddle you, give you lots of kisses. Really, my love is always there for you, and I do try to give it; you just have to take the time to accept it. It’s like Heavenly Father’s love that way.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. He’s always there, always loving us; we just have to take a moment to stop and feel it. Just like right now, you’re holding still and I’m holding you, and you can feel my love, right? All cozy in your heart?”

“Uh-huh.”

“It really is the same with His love; all we need to do is hold still and feel it.”

The other day David (5ys) said: “Mom, there’s something wrong with me.”

Me: “What’s wrong?”

David: “I can’t stop thinking. I think all day long and all night long and I’m tired of it. I’m bored of thinking.” Read the rest of this entry »

The other night David (5 yrs) asked his Daddy: “Who created God?” (The appearance of parental omniscience is certainly hard to maintain when faced with questions like that!) David later told me that he thinks there are some kids who don’t believe in God. He said: “I don’t usually ask people about what they think about God, but it’s good to believe.” He asked why some people don’t go to church and expressed concern that they wouldn’t be able to learn about God if they didn’t go. Daniel and I explained that some people learn about God outside of religion and some people who believe in God don’t go to church. I think we’ll wait to explain agnosticism and atheism for at least another six months. . . .

Rebekah (3 yrs) jumped into bed with us Sunday morning and cheerfully announced: “I would be really happy if I could live with Jesus! So would you, you would give him like, a big hug!”

Daniel read “The 3 Billy Goats Gruff” to Rebekah (3 yrs) the other night. He wanted to teach her about how a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush, so he asked her: “What did the troll do wrong?” Rebekah immediately answered: “The troll did not share his bridge. He should have shared his bridge.” Daniel smiled and said: “Rebekah, that’s a wonderful lesson–I guess we can save the other lesson for another time.” I’m really glad he didn’t tell her she was wrong and insist that the lesson she should have learned involved the troll eating the littlest billy goat, not sharing the bridge. . .

Lenora (16 mos) has become very possessive lately. She was about 30 feet away when she noticed another baby in her swing; she immediately started running to the swing and yelling “mine!” I didn’t even know Nora knew that word. I think the lesson of “The “3 Billy Goats Gruff” has yet to sink in for her.

I felt like we had made progress this morning when both Rebekah and David (5 yrs) wanted to sit in the same chair and David willingly allowed Rebekah to sit down. It’s amazing how much easier life is when someone is willing to share!

The other day at church, I watched David (5 yrs) put his arm around Rebekah (3 yrs) and walk her up to the stand so that they could sing “Holding Hands Around the World” with the other Primary children. As they heartily sang “we are led by His light and we love truth and right,” I felt moved by their pure faith. Read the rest of this entry »

We are thrilled to welcome Kirsti, our newest writer, who will also be the editor for our new “A ‘Mother Heart’” Feature.

As part of our new feature, Kirsti will be sharing glimpses of her life with her children. We invite any of you to submit fun and inspirational stories from your interactions with the children in your lives (your own and/or others you love and nurture). Send submissions to Kirsti at amotherheart at gmail d’ com.

Lessons from a Child

Today Rebekah (3 yrs) asked: Why can’t people see God?
Me: People can see God. Prophets like Moses saw God.
Rebekah: But why can’t we see God?
David (5 yrs): We can, Rebekah. When we die we will see Him and if we have enough faith we can see Him before we die.

It’s nice to know that if I’m not around; David will help Rebekah with her doctrinal questions!

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Nora (16 mos) got out everyone’s coats this morning to help them get ready for preschool. Her cheerful desire to help makes everyone in the family happy.