April 2012 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

How does one bide their time if they cannot blog? 1 word. PBS. It was going fine, I was accepting my lot in life... AT&T was annoying and I was done with "dealing" with them. My folks don't have their internet working. It was a sign. Perhaps my days of blogging were done. I admit. I cried.

 But then my husband came home and told me he was going to hide in a garbage can and shoot someone with a water gun downtown because he's in the final 2 (out of 70ish people)  of a game called ASAssins at school. (Asian Student Alliance) He needed costume ideas and my 5 year old suggested he dress up with a long hair wig, a beard and a red and white robe like Jesus. So then I smiled.

But then I watched a NOVA special and a baby grey whale was killed by a pack of orcas. Really? Thank you Sea World for glamorizing the most cruel and demonic animals on earth. The grey whale mother had spent 3 months nursing and playing with her baby, however they needed to take a perilous journey up north because the mother didn't have enough food to survive. Yeah. Then the killer whales attack. 4 hours of relentless fighting. The mother did everything she could. They didn't even need dramatic music.

I called a local internet company right away and was barely emotionally competent to put together the kiddo's Easter baskets. Thank you NOVA. You drove me back into the throngs of technology.

I'm sorry I don't have more. Hopefully these can help someone. Thank you so much for those of you who sent me such nice messages. I was at a Sri Lankan party tonight with a gaggle of fun people and it was fabulous. I'd compare your messages to the party's awesomeness because words couldn't do your kindness or the Hall and Oates karaoke justice. God bless you for being such wonderful friends and taking the time to write me.

Week 4 I feel my Savior's love when I try to be like Jesus Christ.

* Take a medium sized box and make a hole for a primary friend to stick their hand inside. They won't be able to see the items inside, but they can feel it. Put items in the box that represent different things the Lord has blessed us with to show His love for us. (Like a stuffed animal for animals, an apple for food, scriptures, a flower for all the plants around us, etc.) Invite a primary friend to share a couple ways we can try to be like Jesus. Write it on the board so ideas won't be repeated! Then have the friend try to guess what one of the items in the box is that they feel. How does that item show Jesus' love for us? Have about 10-12 different items.

* Bring in some special blankets. Does anybody else in primary have a special blanket they love? How does it feel? Divide into groups and give each group a blanket. Have the lovely pianist play some music quietly. The children in each group can bundle themselves in the blanket and share a story of when they have tried to be like Jesus and how it felt, then pass the blanket to the next friend.
Review the story of the vision of the tree of life. There is nothing like a warm, special blanket that makes you feel safe and cozy! Just like there is nothing like the Savior's love!!!
1 Nephi 11:21-23"And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul."

* Do it! There is nothing like teaching a lesson by doing. Have the children draw pictures and then go to Relief Society to give them to the women. Have the children also give a compliment to the person they give their picture to. (Preferably someone who isn't their mom!And of course, pre-arrange with Relief Society to make sure it's OK) Practice and go over some nice compliments they can give. Perhaps they can give the women some little chocolates too! Come back to the primary room and ask the children how it felt to make the women smile. Did they do something the Savior might do? Have the primary children describe their feelings.
Moroni 7:47 " But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."