Lessons

In Gospel Doctrine class a while ago, a guy (Chris) in my ward shared a story about his little brother. He said that when his brother turned 12 he asked Chris if he would bless the sacrament for the first time that the little brother was going to pass the sacrament.

Unfortunately, Chris had to say no because he wasn't worthy. A little while later Chris was able to bless the sacrament. Chris said he will never forget his little brother's face when he stood before him ready to pass the sacrament.

No one else has quite the same effect as siblings can have on you. I've learned many things from having siblings - especially younger siblings. All good things. Thank you to Stanley who took one for the team and decided to be the youngest of us Dahlins. I love you!


Here are some thoughts I had the other night that I tried to explain to Tom...

Our spirits come into the world as baby humans and we're these tiny, helpless people that need to be taught and taken care of. Then slowly we grow up and become adults and go out into the world. It seems like some people don't like to deal with children but then they do when they turn into "adults." Weird?  They're the same person, just at different times...

So I think that when I was mean to my sweet younger siblings, I didn't realize that they would be older one day. And really cool. And I should have treated them as such and seen them for their potential.

DING DING DING DING!!!! We have a winner...

Get it?
Someone at one of our Stake Conferences said that we're raising adults, not children. And now I get it. Sometimes we don't think much of kids, but they're just like us! They're awesome. And it's possible that their spirits are even older than us.

I almost feel embarrassed to have treated my siblings like anything less than the amazing beings they are. This is why we need to be nice to kids. They become older! This may seem so simple but it's something I've come to understand a little deeper. And now I can use my understanding when I have kids. To teach them this and to treat them like adults (in the sense that they're human beings housing a spirit, like me - not like they shouldn't have fun or something).

And then that leads me to think about how awesome the role of being a mother really is. Moms get to hang out with these growing people and know them before the world does.

Cool, huh?