(Juanita Weasel. If you're not familiar with her, click HERE. There's a little language. You've been warned.)
I do want to talk a little about one of the things that's kept me busy, though. Be warned--I'm going to start speaking Mormon. I'll try to provide a translation when necessary. And I promise there will be a point. It just might take me a minute to get there.
A few weeks ago I was asked to be the Primary President. (Primary is the kids' program at church. Like Sunday school. A two hour Sunday school.) The president is, well, the president. I'm responsible for the teaching and spiritual well being of every kid in our church congregation from the age of 18 months to the day before their 12th birthday.
My first reaction when they asked me to do this was to laugh. I don't do children. They're sticky and germy and are always leaking some sort of bodily fluid. They're selfish and irrational and expect their needs to come first. (Clearly MY needs should always come first.) Then the urge to laugh was replaced by shock when I realized they were serious. They really wanted me to do this.
And after a little discussion about some reservations I had, I agreed to do it.
And the very first thing I did after accepting was buy a tub of antibacterial wipes and jug of hand sanitizer. They've already been used. A lot. It was like pee-mageddon in there the first week. (And the second.) (We'll see how the third week goes.)
Luckily I'm not doing it alone. There are teachers for each age group, and I have two counselors (assistants) to share the work load with.
But it has been a lot of work. The reason they needed a new president is because our congregation split. We had so many people that a whole new congregation had to be formed. And nearly all of the people who had been teachers and leaders in Primary were assigned to the new congregation.
So, there was no transition. None of us--not me, my counselors or most of the teachers--knew what we were doing. We were all thrown into the deep end of a pool full of kids (And snot. And pee.) without a life vest.
There's been a lot of tedious work getting things organized the past few weeks, but that's finally done and I can think about things other than class rolls and candy bribes.
Anyway, that was a lot of rambling to get to my point.
I'd been teaching the three year old class in Primary for the past eighteen months. And week after week I'd sit there and hear lessons about what the kids should and shouldn't do. How God would be unhappy if they didn't obey. How three year old girls shouldn't wear sleeveless dresses--as if a three year old has much choice in her clothing.
And I sort of got furious.
And I wondered where the lessons about God's love were.
So when I was given this opportunity to lead the children, the main reason I accepted was so that I could do my best to make sure the kids know that God loves them no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT.
And that led me to write my Primary Manifesto:
You are a child of God. Heavenly Father loves you no matter what you look like. He loves you no matter what you wear. He loves you no matter what you believe. He loves you no matter how many things you have. He loves you no matter who you love. He loves you no matter where you are on Sunday. He loves you no matter what you do. He loves you NO MATTER WHAT.
This just doesn't get said enough in Primary (or church in general.) Yes, God would like it if you did X, Y and Z, but he still loves you even if you don't. You are still a person of worth in the world. You don't have to fit a mold to be loved.
I teach my own kids to live a certain way, and there are consequences when they don't, but I always make it clear that I still love them, no matter what. Surely God must feel the same way about His children?
If one child leaves Primary knowing that they're loved, it will make all the work (And snot. And pee.) worth it.
14 comments:
It's a good message. I'm proud. :)
I also love Juanita. So much.
I like it - with a caveat. The world at large would look at your manifesto and say,"you're right. God loves you no matter what, so you can do whatever you want." You mentioned that your own kids are being taught to live a certain way and that there are consequences when they don't, so be sure not to lose sight of that when teaching the kids that they are loved no matter what. They need to be clear on the fact that you are not giving them carte blanche to break whatever commandments they don't feel like following because God will love them whether they follow the commandments or not. He loves us when we do wrong, YES. But he will not and CANNOT remove the consequences of bad behavior when we do wrong. And He is disappointed and sad when we choose to be disobedient, just as I am when my kids choose to do things they know they aren't supposed to. And yes, maybe even a little angry, depending on the severity of the offense. I love my boys and always will, no matter what they do, but I don't have to like or condone or allow certain things. Be very clear on all points, and I like it.
P.S. I'm the first counselor in our ward right now, so I get it with the snot and the pee. Boy, do I get it!
You are Primary PRESIDENT? That's s hard calling. I pray every night that I'll never be called to serve in Primary. God's probably gonna strike me shortly with a job in the pee and snot world. Ahhhh!! I'm pretty sure that actually creating the complete manefesto will get you removed from the presidency position toot sweet. The God loves you part might be enough. Let the rest of the details lie in their imagination.
Pooh-- Of course there are consequences. The commandments and consequences for disobedience are well covered in every lesson. What the lessons were missing were that God still loves them even if they're not perfect. And I don't mean to imply that the leaders and teachers didn't believe that God loves them no matter what--I know they did. But it's simply mentioned rarely in the lessons themselves. I think maybe it's just assumed that everyone understands that, but not everyone does.
When I was teaching Sunbeams and we had the modesty themed month, I had three year old girls in my class getting teased by other three year olds because they had sleeveless dresses and they just learned in sharing time that God doesn't like sleeveless dresses. I have an older girl who is distraught because none of her family can attend her wedding because they're not members, and she wondered if it would be better to distance herself from her family!! Those aren't the sort of things Primary aged kids should have have weighing on their minds. I feel a huge responsibility to emphasize the part that gets left out so often--that God loves them, sleeveless dresses and non-member families and all. (And that God loves the non-member family members JUST AS MUCH as he loves church members!)
Jo--If they want to release me, so be it, but there's nothing in there that is untrue. Not one thing, even according to LDS doctrine.
Ooo, I love that message. I should print it off and put it on my wall since I could use a little reassurance of that somedays.
That is a great manifesto. I <3 it. I'm glad you are making a difference but I hope it doesn't drive you crazy with all of the doctrine and historical stuff...if you know what I mean. Either way I applaud you for finding a balance and making it work. Good luck with the snot monsters. :)
That manifesto isn't Primary exclusive. We can use it in any (and ALL) organizations of the church. We need it in all the organizations....
When I used to head up Sunday school, this was what I told all my teachers was our goal - that children left the program knowing that 1. God loves them, 2. Jesus loves them, 3. the people in this church love them and 4. we, their teachers, loved them. I think that as children age, it can be a help to have that message imprinted on their brains. I always said, if we can get that into their heads and hearts, we're done - anything else is gravy.
What an adventure lies ahead- for you and the children in your ward! God obviously had a message for these children and knew you would get it to them! Best wishes for more fun and success than snot and pee! :)
I think it's very brave of you to take on Primary President! I dread the day when someone is unfortunate enough to think the same of me! lol!
And I LOVE your manifesto--what a good idea to teach our kids not only the rules and stories but the most important part of the Gospel--that we are all children of a Heavenly Father who LOVES US!
Congratulations and good luck! I'm excited and scared for you all at once. I'm sure you'll be the best primary president ever and the kids will love you (if they don't already).
Also, just wondering, did you really laugh when the bishop asked? I think I really would laugh if they asked me.
you are doing a great job, as always. you always do a good job at everything you are called to do. i'm glad the kids have you. kids need love. that's why you were called.
Brandi,
What a fun calling. I know you don't like the snot, pee monsters but I too am in the Primary Pres. and I too think it's very important that the kids feel "LOVE" Gods love my love etc.. I think the same way if a child leaves church and the only thing he remember is that God LOVES him it's been a GREAT DAY!!!!
He or She didn't mean to leave the She out!!!!
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