This last Sunday Preston sat next to me during Sacrament meeting. As the Young Men got up to start passing the Sacrament, Preston leaned over and asked me how old you have to be to help pass the bread and water. I told him that when boys turn 12, they can start passing the Sacrament. Preston was not satisfied with my response and he said, "Well why does that boy get to help? He's not 12!" I turned to see who he was referring to and sure enough, there was a new deacon helping pass who looked about the age of 7. He was standing up at the front of the Chapel along side 9-10 other Young Men/Elders and he was very small in comparison. I reassured Preston that he was 12, he was just a little smaller than the other boys. Preston accepted my answer that time and then remarked that he can't wait until he turns 12 so he can help pass the Sacrament. I told him that will be awesome to look forward to (and will come way too fast!). Preston then turned to his Dad and reassured him that when he turns 12, he will wave to him while he's up passing the Sacrament:).
A few minutes later, some of the members of the congregation started trickling up to the stand to bear their testimonies since it was fast Sunday. Preston again turned to me and asked how old you have to be to go up and bear your testimony. I told him you don't have to be a certain age and I asked him if he would like to go up. He jumped at the chance and started making his way to the end of our row (he's never even shown interest in bearing his testimony before). I told him to come back for a second and I asked him what he was going to say (I thought I may need to do a bit of filtering). But Preston whispered a few of the things he wanted to say and I was amazed at his tact. He excitedly started heading back down the row to the isle and headed up to the stand. He walked right to the pulpit and said, "I want to bear my testimony. I know this church is true. And I know that Jesus likes me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
As I sat in the congregation, admiring his confidence, I was beaming inside and out. It's moments like these when I realize that as a Mother, maybe my testimony is rubbing off more than I feel it is sometimes. After all the family home evening lessons and the heart-to-hearts I have had with my boys, sometimes I feel like my words go in one ear and out the other without even being heard. But maybe they are listening. I know Preston doesn't fully understand what "knowing the church is true" means, but he is getting there. But if nothing else, and more importantly, he knows that Jesus likes him:). And that is my #1 job as a Mother on this Earth, to teach my children who their Savior is, and that he "likes" them. Nothing gives me more joy as a Mother than to know, my children are gaining their own little testimonies; those tiny seeds are sprouting.
Preston's confidence in believing with his whole 5 year old heart, that Jesus knows him by name, and they are friends, was a wonderful testament to me and everyone else listening.
After the meeting I was joking with a brother in our ward who was commenting me on my son's remarks in his simple, but very heart-felt testimony. He was telling me that he was teaching the High Priest's lesson later that day and he planned to use Preston's testimony as part of his lesson. We were commenting back and forth about how sometimes we say things like, "I love you... but I don't like you very much right now." And even though we know that God loves us, and we know he is watching over and is mindful of us, sometimes we don't always feel like Jesus likes us. Sometimes we feel "lost in the herd" (I know I have felt that way). But the simple testimony of a small child reminds us of the simpleness of the Gospel - We are loved, we are remembered, He know us each by name, and we are even liked.
Following Preston's testimony, Spencer also got up and bore his testimony for the first time. With his toothless 7 year-old grin, he said that he knows the church is true and he knows that President Thomas S. Monson is our Prophet. He also did a wonderful job.
I am so proud of these two little boys in their black suits who teach me more than I will ever teach them.
4 comments:
Ah, Beth, what a sweet moment. I can see your writing of it being something he could reread when older. A good recording of him verbalizing the start of their testimonies. Rewarding to hear they are internalizing what they hear from you! :)
Lots of chills being felt here... so sweet.
What a great blog!
Oh, I can just imagine Preston wriggling himself up there. Spencer too. That's awesome-I'm sure your teachings and example are rubbing off more than you know.
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