Last night was our weekly Family Home Evening, where we make sure we are all home, have a lesson about being more Christlike, and then on to a dessert and activity. It was Rebecca's turn to choose the activity, and after hearing from our neighbors about a movie in the park, she decided that's where we needed to go.
After cleaning up the house and kitchen, we anxiously awaited Jon's lesson on keeping the Sabbath Day holy. I found it quite comical and ironic that while Jon was giving examples about how to keep our house more calm and serene on Sundays in order to feel the Spirit, Ryan decided at that moment to be Mr. Psycho and tear through the family room like a monkey on a cupcake. Books flying, toys banging, voice yelling, feet jumping...it was the perect image to offset Jon's explanation of quiet and peaceful activities to do on the Sabbath. At the time I was ready to throw Ryan in a padded room and slap myself silly for having children. I can laugh about it now.
After the very hands-on lesson we had, we sang a song, which Ryan did calm down for, and then chomped down our much-anticipated dessert -- peach cobbler. A tasty treat for summer. We gathered up our blankets, got in the car, and drove to the Kiwanis Park behind the local library, for a concert/movie in the park. We arrived about an hour before the movie (oops, guess they can't show the movie until it's almost dark), and the local band that was lined up to play before the movie was already playing the few songs they had written. The kids were in heaven. Ryan and Rebecca immediately started dancing around like they were at a Hannah Montana concert, cheering, clapping, and showing us their moves. They also shot over to the playground and got some of their climbing and sliding out, as well.
About 9:15, it was dark enough to show the movie. Half of our neighborhood was there, and we thankfully shared all the snacks and blankets everyone had brought. As it got dark and the movie screen came on, the kids came over and settled down on our blanket. The movie showing was "Horton Hears a Who", by Dr. Suess. None of us had seen it before, as it came out last summer, I believe. After hearing the line "A person's a person no matter how big or how small", repeated several times throughout the movie, I was taught a very valuable lesson. I looked at my two sweet children and one incredible husband lying there on the blanket, snuggled together, quiet as can be, eyes glued to the giant talking elephant on the screen, and I realized that even though our kids are loud and crazy, they truly are beautiful, are children of God, and deserve the same respect and love as we do. They do have something to say, and it is up to us as parents to "hear" them, just as Horton did. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our busy lives, and get them involved in so many things, "for their own good", that sometimes I often forget that they do have a voice that is desperately trying to be heard.
After cleaning up the house and kitchen, we anxiously awaited Jon's lesson on keeping the Sabbath Day holy. I found it quite comical and ironic that while Jon was giving examples about how to keep our house more calm and serene on Sundays in order to feel the Spirit, Ryan decided at that moment to be Mr. Psycho and tear through the family room like a monkey on a cupcake. Books flying, toys banging, voice yelling, feet jumping...it was the perect image to offset Jon's explanation of quiet and peaceful activities to do on the Sabbath. At the time I was ready to throw Ryan in a padded room and slap myself silly for having children. I can laugh about it now.
After the very hands-on lesson we had, we sang a song, which Ryan did calm down for, and then chomped down our much-anticipated dessert -- peach cobbler. A tasty treat for summer. We gathered up our blankets, got in the car, and drove to the Kiwanis Park behind the local library, for a concert/movie in the park. We arrived about an hour before the movie (oops, guess they can't show the movie until it's almost dark), and the local band that was lined up to play before the movie was already playing the few songs they had written. The kids were in heaven. Ryan and Rebecca immediately started dancing around like they were at a Hannah Montana concert, cheering, clapping, and showing us their moves. They also shot over to the playground and got some of their climbing and sliding out, as well.
About 9:15, it was dark enough to show the movie. Half of our neighborhood was there, and we thankfully shared all the snacks and blankets everyone had brought. As it got dark and the movie screen came on, the kids came over and settled down on our blanket. The movie showing was "Horton Hears a Who", by Dr. Suess. None of us had seen it before, as it came out last summer, I believe. After hearing the line "A person's a person no matter how big or how small", repeated several times throughout the movie, I was taught a very valuable lesson. I looked at my two sweet children and one incredible husband lying there on the blanket, snuggled together, quiet as can be, eyes glued to the giant talking elephant on the screen, and I realized that even though our kids are loud and crazy, they truly are beautiful, are children of God, and deserve the same respect and love as we do. They do have something to say, and it is up to us as parents to "hear" them, just as Horton did. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our busy lives, and get them involved in so many things, "for their own good", that sometimes I often forget that they do have a voice that is desperately trying to be heard.
I made a promise to myself in that very moment -- I would try harder to listen to their voice, truly listen. Put some of my own distractions away, and truly try to listen to them. Figure out what they need through their voice, not mine. After all, a person's a person, no matter how big or how small.
2 comments:
Laurie, I had no idea how poetic you are...quite impressive! I love your analogies! I haven't seen the movie yet but with how inspiring you have suggested it is; I think I might just have to view it.
It's so great to be able to connect through this blogspot. It kinda makes me feel as though I just spoke to you the other day..in a weird telepathic sorta way! ;-)
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