Jesus is real to me

A while ago I posted this picture of McKye at breakfast and as a caption wrote down our little conversation that morning:

We stayin here today? 

Yup. 

We not goin' to a new house? 

No, Do you want to go to a new house? 

No. This one's good. The Holy Ghost is here. And Jesus too.

It's cute right? 

They real story,  of course, (before you conjure up any inaccurate depictions of our ever-spiritual home) is that he and his little brother have been full out fighting NON-STOP , and I in my desperation had resorted to doctrine (which is suppose to change behaviour quicker right Pres. Packer??!?!) So we've been talking A LOT about trying to help the Holy Ghost be able to be in our home and how if we are kind we will feel Him more and be a happier family.

Well, I can't really report that the fighting has gone down too much. 

There might be slightly more giggling before the screaming begins, mid-wrestle.  

(Those of you with rough and tumble boys...please tell me this is all normal???) 

But that little breakfast conversation made me feel like at least 

something was sticking (other than the yogurt covered cheerios...which by the way is delicious  Ben thinks it's weird but I've convinced my kids to love like me.)

Huh, that's kinda like teaching the gospel. (Really Cheerios in yogurt is gonna be the big metaphor of this blog post??? I must be outta practice!)

But really, if you love something, if your kids see you partaking of something, enjoying it, that has the power to influence them.

I love how Elder Holland put it, in this powerful talk:

"Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can. 

Keep the covenants your children know you have made. Give priesthood blessings. And bear your testimony! Don’t just assume your children will somehow get the drift of your beliefs on their own. The prophet Nephi said near the end of his life that they had written their record of Christ and preserved their convictions regarding His gospel in order “to persuade our children … that our children may know … [and believe] the right way. 

...Brothers and sisters, our children take their flight into the future with our thrust and with our aim.... 

Be believing. Keep loving and keep testifying. Keep praying. Those prayers will be heard and answered in the most unexpected hour. God will send aid to no one more readily than He will send it to a child—and to the parent of a child."

And yet, in all our efforts to lead and teach,  our Saviour admonishes us 

"Behold, your little ones."

They have so much to teach us about faith, and believing and trusting and loving. 

I have thought a lot about McKye and his simple statement that Jesus was with us in our home. 

He has also asked, lately, "Where is Jesus?" To which I give a fumbly answer about heaven with Heavenly Father and try and bridge it to a little lesson on the Resurrection and Eternal families. 

The last time this happened (because everything with preschoolers repeats!) McKye was asking again if, seeing as we couldn't go to Caleb's house, if we could go see Jesus. 

To my surprise, Levi piped in, "NO McKye, die first, then go see Jesus!!!"

My little Levi, always listening. 

I tried to talk about how this life is a gift and a test, that Jesus wants our family to experience earth life and learn to follow Him and have faith and choose the right even when we can't see Him.

To which McKye, said, "Okay, well can we go to Max and Ruby's house?"

I hope Jesus is a little more real to them than their favorite cartoon characters, I think the difference is, one day they'll need Him, like we all do.

Then last week in Church, Levi started looking around, I assumed for all his little fans he likes to flirt with each week, but then he very adamantly asked, still earnestly scanning the pews, "Jesus at church???" (Where else would He be, right???)

It took me back to a time in primary, where we were trying to get the kids excited for our primary presentation. I said something like, "Remember who we get to sing for next week?"(meaning their parents) and this little foster care boy who really struggled with sitting though Church and who compared with the other kids had had so little gospel instruction in his life, turned and looked at me with wide eyes and siad, "Jesus?!?!?"

He truly believed that it made perfect sense that this Jesus Christ, who we had spoke of every week, and taught testified of, of course He would be coming to hear us sing. 
And I know He did.

I know He does. He is so near. Ever aware and ever loving.

For where two or three are gathered btogether in my name, 
there am I in the midst of them.

Even if that's just at our breakfast table, eating Cheerios and yogurt.

The title from this post comes from this beautiful primary song:

If you haven't heard this ....go HERE

A long time ago in a beautiful place,
Children were gathered ’round Jesus.
He blessed and taught as they felt of His love.
Each saw the tears on His face.
The love that He felt for His little ones
I know He feels for me.
I did not touch Him or sit on His knee,
Yet, Jesus is real to me.

I know He lives!
I will follow faithfully.
My heart I give to Him.
I know that my Savior loves me.

Now I am here in a beautiful place,
Learning the teachings of Jesus.
Parents and teachers will help guide the way, Lighting my path ev’ry day.

Wrapped in the arms of my Savior’s love,
I feel His gentle touch.
Living each day, I will follow His way,
Home to my Father above.

I know He lives!
I will follow faithfully.
My heart I give to Him.
I know that my Savior loves me.

PS Can you post-script on blogs or is it PB "post blog"? anyway...






(video of Aaron signign I know my father lives)

Aaron's new church cards he loves! We tweaked ours a lot but the
originals can be downloaded here

Charlie, Aaron's aid  at school, told me how even Aaron shows us how real the Lord is to Him. 

They were preparing a Father's day card and as they often do Aaron was typing, instead of printing, as his aid pointed out the letter's to spell "Happy Father's Day". 

She said when she said and pointed to the word Father, Aaron looked up and just giggled. Charlie says she gets goosebumps every time she tells someone about it. 

You see Ben has never been "Father" to our kids, he has always and only every been "Dad" or "Daddy"...the only "Father" Aaron has ever been told about is His Heavenly one. I love that He has connected his Father in Heaven with Joy. 

Link to video of Aaron signing "I Know My Father Lives"

When I ask my kids if Jesus loves them, they look at me like I'm a little bit crazy and say, "yes!" like of course mom, why wouldn't Jeus love me, I'm awesome. 

How quickly our own awareness of our own weakness, shortcomings and sins, has us doubting our relationship with our Saviour. Oh, how parenting has solidified that for me! I can be so steaming mad at my kids, or annoyed out of my mind, and still, their is never an instant where I don't love them more than I realized possible. THey are mine and nothing can change that. 

 Who shall separate us from the alove of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Nothing.