Noah was assigned to give a Primary talk last week. (Primary is where the children go to learn about Jesus and Heavenly Father while the adults attend Sunday School classes and such- it is an amazing program where many volunteers work tirelessly to teach our children) Noah was very chill about the whole thing- previously we have had tantrums, and much fighting to get through it. It really was a trial for him to prepare the talk, then get up in front of everyone and give it!
But this time, when I asked when he would like to prepare, he wanted to right after he was done playing. Since this was his third time giving a talk, I wanted him to pretty much write the whole thing, and I was so pleased when he did. Of course, I gave him ideas and examples, but he wrote it. It was such an amazing moment. One of those times when you savor being a parent because you get to watch your child accomplish things that were previously beyond their abilities! I felt such joy. We practiced a few times each day- he loved calling different people and asking if he could practice on them.
Then the big day arrived. When my Mom called, he practiced on her. He was absolutely beaming afterward. I could hear her praising him and I knew he felt such a sense of accomplishment. I was especially glad that he was doing so great, because I was giving the lesson in Relief Society (our church's society for women where we learn together and serve each other- it's a worldwide thing!)
But as things go . . . an hour before church, Noah absolutely REFUSED to get dressed for church and added that he was NOT going to church and definitely NOT giving his talk. Our church doesn't start til afternoon, so he'd had all morning to get dressed! The look on his face was completely surprising- he looked angrier than I'd ever seen him. I had no idea why the sudden change. I tried to talk to him, see if maybe he was nervous, but he clammed up. He even went as far as to RIP his talk up. Luckily the night before I had printed off an extra! (Huge blessing!)
All I could do was pray. I prayed desperately that I would know what to do and how to help him. He had been doing so great! What was going on? Little by little, I was led what to do- I offered to help him get dressed (I know, he's 6!) and he consented, glaring at me, his eyebrows scrunched, the entire time. It was shocking, because this kind of anger is just so rare for him. By a miracle, we were able to get to church, even somewhat on time. I kept praying that Noah's heart would be softened and that mine would be too. It was so hard to not absolutely lose it with him, but I knew that would only make a bad situation worse. Throughout sacrament meeting, he seemed happy and I had felt that I shouldn't respond when he told me he wasn't giving his talk. I just didn't say anything. Then the meeting was over and it was time for Primary.
"Mom, can I have my talk?" Noah asked sweetly. He even sounded a bit excited.
I acted unphased, though inside, I was jumping around, excited. "Here you go," I said calmly, pulling it out of my bag.
When I came in to see him, he was sitting at the front of the primary room, looking like the everyday Noah I know and love.
When it was his turn, he got up more confidently than I had seen in the past and delivered his talk:
"I love Jesus and He has given me a gift and that gift is Him. He has given me many more things and I am thankful for every one of them. I am going to tell a story.
But this time, when I asked when he would like to prepare, he wanted to right after he was done playing. Since this was his third time giving a talk, I wanted him to pretty much write the whole thing, and I was so pleased when he did. Of course, I gave him ideas and examples, but he wrote it. It was such an amazing moment. One of those times when you savor being a parent because you get to watch your child accomplish things that were previously beyond their abilities! I felt such joy. We practiced a few times each day- he loved calling different people and asking if he could practice on them.
Then the big day arrived. When my Mom called, he practiced on her. He was absolutely beaming afterward. I could hear her praising him and I knew he felt such a sense of accomplishment. I was especially glad that he was doing so great, because I was giving the lesson in Relief Society (our church's society for women where we learn together and serve each other- it's a worldwide thing!)
But as things go . . . an hour before church, Noah absolutely REFUSED to get dressed for church and added that he was NOT going to church and definitely NOT giving his talk. Our church doesn't start til afternoon, so he'd had all morning to get dressed! The look on his face was completely surprising- he looked angrier than I'd ever seen him. I had no idea why the sudden change. I tried to talk to him, see if maybe he was nervous, but he clammed up. He even went as far as to RIP his talk up. Luckily the night before I had printed off an extra! (Huge blessing!)
All I could do was pray. I prayed desperately that I would know what to do and how to help him. He had been doing so great! What was going on? Little by little, I was led what to do- I offered to help him get dressed (I know, he's 6!) and he consented, glaring at me, his eyebrows scrunched, the entire time. It was shocking, because this kind of anger is just so rare for him. By a miracle, we were able to get to church, even somewhat on time. I kept praying that Noah's heart would be softened and that mine would be too. It was so hard to not absolutely lose it with him, but I knew that would only make a bad situation worse. Throughout sacrament meeting, he seemed happy and I had felt that I shouldn't respond when he told me he wasn't giving his talk. I just didn't say anything. Then the meeting was over and it was time for Primary.
"Mom, can I have my talk?" Noah asked sweetly. He even sounded a bit excited.
I acted unphased, though inside, I was jumping around, excited. "Here you go," I said calmly, pulling it out of my bag.
When I came in to see him, he was sitting at the front of the primary room, looking like the everyday Noah I know and love.
When it was his turn, he got up more confidently than I had seen in the past and delivered his talk:
"I love Jesus and He has given me a gift and that gift is Him. He has given me many more things and I am thankful for every one of them. I am going to tell a story.
One day my Mom hurt her back. She couldn’t even walk, so I did chores and brought her breakfast to help her. I felt a good feeling, and I knew that was coming from Heavenly Father.
This is how I show my love for Jesus. I pray and I serve and I keep the commandments and if you do those things too then you can be like Heavenly Father and Jesus."
This is how I show my love for Jesus. I pray and I serve and I keep the commandments and if you do those things too then you can be like Heavenly Father and Jesus."
Tears came to my eyes as I watched my formerly angry boy, calmly reading his talk, stopping at all the right places and having perfect intonation. My heart was just SO full after everything we had been through. I felt so blessed that Heavenly Father had heard and answered my prayers. He sat down with his class and I stole over and hugged him before leaving to go to my own class. And the funny thing is, I wouldn't trade that day at all- the bitterness of the morning made the sweetness of the afternoon much more exquisite.
