The last two Sundays in Primary have been especially sweet and touching. Both weeks I sat down with the kids during singing time and sang with them (instead of standing off to the side with the presidency and just jumping in every now and then). Those kids know those songs, and they sing their little hearts out!
Last week, as we got ready to sing When I Am Baptized, the singing leader asked the kids what happens when you get baptized. One of the 8 year olds, who was just baptized a few months ago, raised his hand and said we become clean. Then one of the little 4 year olds raised his hand and said (with his adorable little voice), "Um, you get da Holy Ghost to come into youw heawt." All of the leaders were a little stunned at such an insightful answer from someone so young (including the singing leader who is the little boy's dad, haha).
And besides that sweetest of comments, my heart was just touched listening to all of those little voices sing with such conviction words like "I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." And "I feel my Savior's love," "keep the commandments, in this there is safety and peace." Or "I love to see the temple...a family is forever" the day after witnessing 2 of those little girls be sealed to their parents as a family. As I watched them, I was amazed to see even the shy, timid kids singing along with everyone else, or trying to follow the singing leader when they didn't know all the words.
Today we had a little girl (7 1/2) who only comes occasionally and is a little more difficult (she has a hard time sitting still and paying attention, and can often be a bit disruptive). When the younger girl who was supposed to be giving the scripture stopped repeating after her dad because she was too shy, the 7 1/2 year old chimed in and repeated the next line of the verse (1 Nephi 3:7). Then as they were singing Nephi's Courage, she joined in and sang out with all her heart. When they finished, and the singing leader was talking about the meaning of the song, he asked what "courageous" meant, and she raised her hand, "Um, I believe in this instance...it's talking about when it's hard to do the right thing, but you do it anyway." I was amazed at her comprehension (as well as her very grown up use of "in this instance"). It reminded me not to assume things just because someone is different or difficult. And just showed me again how much children really do understand and what great potential they have.
