"Become as Little Children"

       

www.trying2staycalm.com & http://davidbowmanart.com/ 

   We are constantly told to become as little children but I never fully understood this concept. Why would they want us to be this way? I have now come to a full understanding of this teaching. I have had the amazing opportunity to sub for primary teachers for about two months now. The children are so innocent and humble. I feel like they are more in tune with the spirit then I ever thought of being. I am not saying these kids are perfect, we have definitely had our trials but you can see the veil starting to close.
           I got to teach the Sunbeams for one week.  It was all boys! I have learned with teaching little kids you have to plan LOTS of activities or you have lots of fights. Our lesson was on water. What in the world do you teach about water to three and four year olds? So I took little fisher price animals and a bowl of water and cups and pictures of baptism and fields and stuff that needs water. We washed our hands and then filled the cups up with water and went and watered the trees then we watered our little fisher price animals. Then we talked about baptism. They are smart but very funny. One time in sharing time we were talking about baptism and Sister Larsen was like Baptism washes away our________. And this little boy shouts out "Our Soul". I couldn't help but laugh. The teachers were like uhm.... haha Sister Larsen was like not quite it is our sins. I LOVE little kids.
           The main thing that has really strengthened my testimony is listening to little kids pray. A little girl in my CTR 6 class once said a prayer which consisted of her saying, "Thank you for this day and my birthday is tomorrow and I am going to be six and I am really excited." She said more but this is what stuck with me. I soon learned her birthday is July 6th but all well that is okay. We should all pray like this and be excited to talk to the Lord like we would our dad.

Alma 34  26 But this is not all; ye must ^apour out your souls in your^bclosets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. 27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your ^aheartsbe ^bfull, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your^cwelfare, and also for the welfare of ^dthose who are around you.

            Our Father in Heaven wants to hear from us. He is our Father and wants to hear what we have to say. It is not silly it builds a relationship. I feel that little kids understand this and they apply it in their prayers. 

I teach the CTR 6 class the most often and I often call them mine. My mom thinks it's funny. But we made this prayer chain. The first link is their written promise to pray and then they would put a yellow link on for every morning prayer they say and a black link for every night prayer. They were so excited and telling me how they say they prayers all the time. 

"I kneel to pray twice every day each morning and each night. I talk to Heavenly Father, and ask for help to choose the right." 

                  My favorite person to sub for is Sister Hillman She is the music person. I have always loved music and it is the one way that helps me feel the spirit the most. My Sr. Primary is getting to the age where they are to cool to sing. My favorite thing to do is make the boys come sing in front of everyone because they are way to cool to even be in primary. I get them to sing though... sometimes. Haha I am most successful when we make it a competition to see who sings the best and the loudest. My Jr. Primary gets so excited about singing. Even when they don't know the words they just mumble or make up their own. This last week a little sunbeam was just making noises but hey it works. He was still trying to participate.  Even when I go into nursery they are so excited. All the kids in primary and nursery love the song Scripture Power. They sing so well and put their scriptures in the air proudly. The little nursery kids just put their fists in the air but they are so excited about singing that song and it always impresses me how well they know the song. The spirit is always so strong for me during singing time and I feel an overwhelming love for these little kids. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us all and there is something to learn from these children.