I've been stumped for awhile on how to make FHE more effective. I hate just talking "at" my kids because they get bored and so do I:)) After a lot of pondering and listening to talks from General Conference,our Stake Conference, and Elder Bednars talk when he came to our stake to talk, I concluded that; 1- for my kids to gain a real testimony, they have to ACT on true principles, 2- As parents we are responsible to provide our kids with the opportunities to ACT on these true principles. So I totally changed the way we do FHE now. First we introduce the topic (which I plan as I watch the kids develop and see what understanding they are ready for) then after the topic is introduced, they each have a part of the lesson that they were asked to do earlier. Then the magic happens. We go and ACT on the principle. For example, one day we did "Being a Missionary". After Scotty and I showed the boys our mission pictures and talked about the basics of a mission, we gave the kids pass-a-long cards and asked them who they wanted to give those go. They picked their people and we went out and let them give the cards away. They loved it and they felt the spirit of being a missionary! It was awesome.
The time that I never want to forget was the time that we did charity as our topic. We talked about it and helped them understand the spirit behind it. Then we went to our friends house who was needing some help because she has 4 kids and her husband travels all the time. We got there and cleaned up their house for them. Asher and Graham were so in to it. They cleaned up so well and were so happy. Then after I asked them how they felt, Graham said, "I felt so warm inside". So we recognized the spirit and explained that this is how we feel when we have charity for someone. When we were done we considered it a success. Then the next day I was in the car with Ash and Graham. We came to a corner where a homeless guy was standing there with a sign asking for money. Asher looked at him and said, "Mom what is that guy doing? What does his sign say"? So I read the sign to him, "Homeless. Please help. Need money"
Asher said, "He doesn't have a home"?
I said, "Nope"
Then he was quiet for a minute. In that minute I was thinking that the bumb needed to go get a job :)
Then in a very urgent voice Asher said, "Well, Mom, aren't you gonna help him"?
I said, "What do you wanna do?" I was really trying to put all my thoughts aside.
Ash said, "Well, I have my quarter that I was gonna get a gum ball with. I can give it to him". Just so you know, getting a gum ball at HomeDepot is a big deal at our house.
I said, "You want to give him your quarter instead of get a gum ball?"
Without even thinking he said yes that he did. So I flipped the car around and pulled up next to the guy. I gave Asher some more quarters to give him. Asher opened his window and gave the guy his money.
The guy smiled sooo big and said very sincerely, "Thank you so much. God bless you".
Then as we pulled away I could feel the spirit radiating from Asher. I said, "How do you feel Ash?" and he said that he felt so happy and warm. So again I recognized the spirit and commented that he had charity for that man. Asher was so smiley. Then Graham pipped in, "Well, Asher. Now you can't get a gum ball, but I can because I didn't give that man my money". The big tease.
Asher commented, "I feel so good right now that I don't even want a gum ball"
I was so proud of Asher. He is really growing and learning. Such an amazing boy!!!
