Come unto Christ as a child

Last week, my family enjoyed watching the worldwide Friend to Friend Broadcast for Children: 2021. This program is geared toward kids under the age of twelve, and my kindergartener loved having the whole family engage in something on her level. We sang songs and learned how to draw a picture of a child praying. My favorite part was a segment showing how to use differently shaped rocks to make pictures of scripture stories. My daughters look forward to our next walk along the Matanuska River to collect rocks for our own pictures. You can access the broadcast at churchofjesuschrist.org or search “Friend to Friend 2021” on YouTube.

Earlier that day, my family and I walked our dog around the block. We enjoyed the sunshine glinting off the snow as we traveled our usual route through the neighborhood. Upon our return, I put the dog treat bag and leash on top of the dryer in the garage and went to the backyard to do dog chores with my five-year-old daughter. By the time we finished and came back to the garage, the dogs had found the treat bag and promptly emptied it. I yelled at the dogs in frustration.

My daughter’s small voice broke through, saying, “You don’t need to yell. The dogs don’t understand.” (The very phrase I have said to her at least on a weekly basis over the past few months). I replied, “I think I’m really just mad at myself because I left the treats where they could get them.” My anger immediately diffused as she said, “It’s okay, mom. We all make mistakes.” She reflected the love and patience I try to model for her.

I appreciate having a child around to remind me to be kind and gentle with myself. There is a special strength that accompanies these reminders to fix what I can and let go of hurts. I can cultivate self-talk that reflects the consistent love I demonstrate during my best moments as a mother, friend, and sister.

Jesus loves little children. He made time to bless and talk to them, even when his disciples thought he was too busy. “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). In an eternal context, we are all little children. We are learning “line upon line” to walk Christ’s path. Jesus invites us all, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I shall give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

We can teach our children that it’s okay to make mistakes. If we allow them to fail when they are young, they will learn from natural consequences while the stakes are small. We all sin. We all fall short and offend others. We both cause and experience pain and heartache. Life’s lesson is not how to avoid pain or to hide our shortcomings and weaknesses from ourselves and others.

Christ teaches, “If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27). Part of being humble is being willing to acknowledge our faults and turn to God. It requires faith to believe that Christ can and will help us. King Benjamin compares this process to becoming “as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all the things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him” (Mosiah 3:19).

As I knelt in my room preparing to write this column, my daughter came in and sat on the bed for a few moments before heading off to her bedroom. I heard her praying and smiled. We teach the children in our life through example and repetition. God is our Father; he sees our efforts and knows our hearts. He hears our prayers and smiles.

Amity Condie has lived in Palmer since 2004. She loves reading, skiing, and napping in sunlight. She is currently enrolled in an online Master of Social Work Trauma Certificate program and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.