We have a really small primary, and as the President, I thought I was doing a great job at getting to know the kids individually. After all, when there are only about 15 that are active, it isn’t too hard to remember names, and what they are up to. But, I realized a week or so ago that you can never do too much to show a child love.
We had an annual bike parade and breakfast for our ward for the 24th of July celebrations. There is this family in our ward that has 6 kids, and is being raised by a single dad because the mother passed away last year. They are refugees from a foreign country. I make sure these kids are always included, and participate as much as possible. They’ve only been in the states for about 3 years. Well, in preparation for the bike parade, my husband and I offered to go to their house and help them get their bikes ready. Their bikes needed a LOT of repairs. He got to work in their backyard, and I sat down to chat with the two littlest girls that are 4 and 6.
I was amazed at how chatty they were! In primary on Sundays, they are usually so quiet. Especially the six year old. But, this particular instance, they were buzzing around me, chatting my ears off! I loved it and commented to them about how I didn’t know they could talk that much! Then I said something to the 6 year old like, “You never say this much at church!” and she replied, “I know. Because I’m scared.” I said, “Why are you scared?” and she replied, “Because I don’t know anyone there.” This surprised me. I have been the president for 4 months and thought I was making an effort to truly love these girls, but until I went to their house and they had one on one conversations with me, they did not feel like they knew me. I smiled at her and replied, “Well, now you know me!” and she said, “Yep!”
When we left, they gave me hugs, and were so sweet and loving. It was that easy to make them feel loved. Yet, what if I hadn’t listened to the spirit and made the effort to go over there? What if I hadn’t tried? This little girl might still be sitting in church every Sunday feeling alone and sad even though I thought I was doing my best. But, I learned, that children can never be loved too much.