Sunday, October 9, 2016

Keep Him in your pocket

This past year our 3 year old boy has been given different patches at different events he has attended with dad. He went to father & sons campout and received a patch. He went to an honors night and received 2 more patches. He LOVES his patches! One patch in particular he loves the most. It's a patch that was given just to my husband's scout troop because they were the only ones at this particular camp that passed off "a scout is reverent." The patch they received simply said, "WWJD What Would Jesus Do?" Connor thought this patch was the coolest. He can't read yet but he knew this one of all patches was the coolest! 

The day after he was given this patch, he was readying himself for preschool. He said, "Mom, tan I tate my patch to school?!" I thought for a second, knowing it would NOT make it back, I said, "Let's leave it here so we don't lose it." Connor got sad, and my husband said, "How about he keeps it in his pocket? It won't fall out of this velcro pocket."
I said, ok... knowing for sure the patch would be forever lost; and my husband would have to be the one to go find him another patch, because life as we know it through Connor's eyes would cease to exist without this patch!

Well... to my surprise, the second Connor got home from school, Connor stepped into the kitchen and opened his pocket and took out his patch to show me he hadn't lost it.

I watched him place it ever so carefully back in his pocket and then run of to go play in the house.

I couldn't help but think of my kid's favorite primary song we sing daily right now. 
"If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do..."

If the children are ever arguing over anything, particularly over lunch I start to sing that song. They immediately join in and whatever the fight was about disappears! It's seriously MAGIC! No, I know better, it's not magic, it's the spirit. When the spirit is invited into the home through words and songs, the atmosphere is turned from negative to positive, and anxious to peaceful.

When we act and do things with the constant reminder in our pocket of "What Would Jesus Do" we behave very differently. Simply asking ourselves throughout the day, "if the Savior was beside me, would I act the way I act? Would I say the things I say? Think the things I'm thinking? etc." We invite the spirit into our hearts and homes to brighten the world. Give kindness instead of judgement, help instead of pity, and love instead of hate.

Remind yourself that the Savior IS always watching you, and keep His reminder patch in your pocket to try to be kinder every day. Be kinder to those you come in contact with, and those who notice you without knowing you.