Teaching the children (or is it the other way around?)

Today was my first time teaching my primary class, 5-6 year olds. Aren't they cute? Our lesson was about being grateful and everyone took a turn telling what they are most grateful for. My favorite answers: 'peas', 'the color of the sky', and last but not least... 'the wiggles'. Where do these kids come up with this stuff? I am so excited about my new calling. It's a refreshing change from the Family and Marriage Relations class I was teaching for couples with marital problems. It's much more fun talking about peas, colors and the wiggles and singing 'head, shoulders, knees and toes.' And there's a lot less preparation!

While I was at church teaching my primary kids, Oby was home teaching Chloe how to sit up. We're keeping her away from church until flu season is over and take turns going to church every other week. She's getting so strong! I'm so proud of her.

When I was preparing for my calling in the primary, I thought about this story from President Hinckley:

"Not long after we were married, we built our first home. We had very little money. I did much of the work myself.... The landscaping was entirely my responsibility. The first of many trees that I planted was a thornless honey locust.... It was only a wisp of a tree, perhaps three-quarters of an inch in diameter. It was so supple that I could bend it with ease in any direction. I paid little attention to it as the years passed.

"Then one winter day, when the tree was barren of leaves, I chanced to look out the window at it. I noticed that it was leaning to the west, misshapen and out of balance. I could scarcely believe it. I went out and braced myself against it as if to push it upright. But the trunk was now nearly a foot in diameter. My strength was as nothing against it....

"When it was first planted, a piece of string would have held it in place against the forces of the wind. I could have and should have supplied that string with ever so little effort. But I did not, and it bent to the forces that came against it" (1997).

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a teacher for these children. It is so important to teach them even the simplest of life lessons. And they have a special way of teaching me too. I know that today at dinner I sure appreciated the peas in my salad a lot more than usual!