Christmas/Becoming a Little Child

Merry Christmas, here are a few highlights of our Christmas Eve and Christmas . . .

Making Cookies Christmas Eve

Daddy diligently making sausage balls

Waiting to come down the stairs Christmas Morning.  We are so excited!!

Michael would not get off his car all morning.  He kept grunting at anyone near him in hopes that they would push him around the room.

Samantha got an art easel, she also got 3 rainbow looms, we are going to have quite the collection of bracelets at our house.

John Derek got a new bike and didn't want to stop riding.  As soon as the sun was up he was off.

Elizabeth and her new phone.  She now feels that she is the coolest thing out there.  Which she is!!!

Maddie and her pink kitchen with a washing machine.  She took all of her gifts and stuffed them in all the shelves.

So I have been trying to understand the scripture in Matthew 18:5-- “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me." 

As well as Mosiah 3:19--"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

When your child has thrown a tantrum, made a mess of your kitchen, and won't be potty trained because of their sure stubbornness, it is hard to see why the Lord would ask us to become like little children.  I read 2 stories, from the January 2014 Ensign, that helped me better understand what Heavenly Father is getting at.

Can He See Me?
The first was about a little boy who wanted to know if his Heavenly Father could see Him.  He listened to his mother's faith and trusted that without question.  He knew that his Heavenly Father loved him . . . all based on his faith in his mother's testimony--That is so like how our Father wants us to be.  To trust Him, to have faith in Him and believe just because He said it.  To not need justification as to why I should go help that person that the spirit is prompting me to help.  To not need a confirmation that the Lord is the one talking to me when I am propted to get out of my comfort zone.  To have faith that it is the Lord instructing me and asking for my help and obeying without hesitation.

Hello Little Lamb

The second was about a little boy waking up in the airport surrounded by strangers and loud noises only to be immidatly calmed by his mother, knowing she was there put him at ease and he went back to sleep.--If only we could do that.  To know that in the midst of our trials that the Lord is there, to trust Him, and to know that He will take care of us and that we will let Him.  Too many times I am questioning why I am in the "airport," why I have to go through this and not just focusing on my Heavenly Father and letting Him do what is best for me and what will bring me the most happiness.