RSS Feed

Posts Tagged ‘children’

  1. Children

    September 5, 2010 by Ben Tanner

    Matt. 19: 14

    14 But Jesus said, aSuffer little bchildren, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

    Yesterday my wife had a lot of errands to run.  It’s always difficult for her to get everything she needs done with three little ones tagging along.  Since it was Saturday, and I didn’t have to work, and just told her to go alone and get what she needed to do done.

    This allowed me to spend some time with the kids.  First we went to a little petting zoo and it was a blast to see that amazed look on their faces when each animal would make a sound.  My youngest would laugh so hard every time the Rooster would crow.  He thought it was so funny.  They saw chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, rabbits, puppies, a turkey and even a donkey.  They were having a blast.  After that I took them up to one of my favorite parks in Provo canyon where they were able to wade in the river, throw rocks and just enjoy nature.

    We went to McDonalds for lunch and after I got my youngest down for a nap I thought I would take a little time to get some things down around the house while the older too just played.  I started in on a project and I noticed that my older boy was heading around to the backyard.  I decided to follow him and see what he was up to.

    when I came around the side of the house and saw him, I had the impression that I should just stop my project and spend some one on one time with him.  I ran up behind him, picked him up in the air and then fell to the ground to wrestle him a bit.

    Then we just laid on the grass and looked up into the sky watching air planes and birds fly around.  The wind was blowing a comfortable breeze and the moment was like something out of a movie, or better yet, something out of my childhood.  I just wanted to stay there, and be a little boy again with my little boy.  I just listened to him ask questions and tell me what was on his mind.  It was a perfect moment.

    Later, the BYU game was on and my wife had come home and needed to go back to a store she had been at.  She took the two boys with her and left my daughter at home with me.  My daughter isn’t particularly fond of football, but she stayed next to me and watched the game with me.  I knew she was doing it to be with me and not so much because of the football game.  The game was intense, and BYU won the game (Go Cougs!)  but I kept telling myself not to worry about the outcome of the game and try to focus on my little sweetheart.   She is such a little cutie and I love her little giggles.

    We laughed and talked and I let her use me as a human jungle gym.  I am so grateful to have moments with these children.  They bring me so much joy.  They teach me so much.

    They are so close to heaven.  My greatest wish is for them to not only know that I love them, but to feel that I love them. And for them to grow to reach their greatest potential.  Each child in this world is a miracle.  Each child is endowed with a divine nature.

    My hope is that I will “Become as a little child”.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

    Please Click here to chat with Missionaries.


  2. Matt: 18:3 “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”

    April 11, 2010 by Ben Tanner


    This past week I was able to take a short vacation with my family.  As we prepared for the long drive, my wife and I dreaded the idea that we would have three kids under the age of 7 in a car for hours on end.

    We anticipated questions like “Are we there yet?”

    However a few hours into the drive, we realized that our children were behaving really well.  They were playing nicely with each other and not bothering us at all.  We were shocked.

    Our youngest, a 2 year old wasn’t feeling well and lost his lunch… at first we thought it was just car sickness, but he did it again later that evening.

    We kept wondering if we should just go home so that he could be in his familiar circumstances to get well.  But we also had really wanted to take a vacation because it was long over due.  I started to watch my son very closely and even though he wasn’t feeling well, and he certainly wasn’t his normal cheerful self, he tried to have fun and be happy as much as he could.

    He was enduring his trial very well.  It’s amazing to me that even though these children were not in their familiar patterns and surroundings, they seemed to be able to role with the punches much better than I do when things don’t go my way.

    When we finally got home, my two year old, who is just learning to talk, realized that we were home and called out “HAPPY!”  He was so happy to be home.

    I testify that little children are close to God.  They are full of capacity and life.   They are encircled about in the arms of Jesus’ grace.

    When I grow up, I want to be just like them.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

    If you would like to learn more, Click here for Missionaries