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Mar 2007 Issue
by Alison Palmer
I love the innocence of youth. Unfortunately, the rising generation is faced with more hate, cruelty, and selfishness than this world has seen in a very long time. In a world that is becoming more violent and unfeeling every day, what can we do to teach our children that there is a better way?
Parents have a sacred responsibility to instill our children with love, patience, kindness, and charity toward all men. It seems a very daunting task sometimes.
The Savior taught us by example how to love unconditionally. This month the primary children are learning that Jesus Christ is their example. They are learning the precious song “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus.” As parents we can enforce these teachings in three basic ways. Learning to have Christlike love starts with loving eyes, loving hearts, and loving examples.
Loving Eyes
Diversity is all around us. If we keep our eyes open, and allow our children to do the same, we can teach an appreciation for differences before they are called into question whether different is “OK.”
When children notice differences, don’t make them turn away. When your child loudly announces to the whole store that the man behind you has no legs, it is appropriate to hush their voice. It is not appropriate to turn from the man and hustle your child away as quickly as possible.
Though you are trying to avoid embarrassment and seeming rude, your child may perceive this as avoiding that which is different. Rather, teach them to make eye contact, to be friendly, to ask appropriate questions, and to offer service if it appears to be needed.
Look for opportunities to expose your children to different cultures, ages, and life challenges. Positively talk about different beliefs and situations in your home. Allow your child to problem solve, make choices, and ask questions in a safe environment. He will then know how to appropriately react in public as well.
Help the children see with open eyes that people are people no matter their shape, size, or circumstance.
Loving Hearts
As you begin to open their eyes, help the children open their hearts as well. When an opportunity presents itself, prompt your child to understand his or her own feelings about different situations. Teach them to look deeper and notice good things instead of dwelling on a negative attribute.
Yes, the homeless woman you pass every day may smell funny. Make sure that your child understands the situation, and then move beyond it to call out something good as well.
Point out that even though the woman doesn’t have many possessions, she still has a happy smile and a wave for everyone she meets. Express your feelings of love and help them find their own.
Loving Examples
Placing loving eyes and hearts in motion requires positive examples. We must help our children be familiar with the scripture stories of service, love and forgiveness. Not only should they know the story, but they should be shown how these stories can help them make their own choices. Teach the scriptures, and then help the children apply the scriptures as an example of the Savior’s way.
Perhaps there is an even more important type of example. Our own lives act as a testimony to our children. Do we reflect the teachings they need to learn from us?
If we want our children to learn more Christlike love we need to show them that we are striving for it as well. Let them see you perform acts of service, and explain why you choose to do so. Help them understand how you feel about those that you serve. Cultivate friendships with people from all walks of life. Never speak ill of anyone in front of your children. Express feelings of love and gratitude for those around you at every opportunity.
Be slow to judge and quick to look for the positive.
Christ showed us that His eyes were open to those that others refused to see. His heart found good in everyone, and He taught us to love as He did. It takes just three things to begin to teach a child this same love: loving eyes, loving hearts, and loving examples.
May we all listen more closely as the spirit whispers “Love one another as Jesus loves you.”
Alison Palmer is the author of Sharing Through Primary Songs and other primary teaching aids found at your local LDS bookstore or at www.cedarfort.com.
