In our church(LDS) we have an annual children's Sacrament program. They practice the songs the entire year. Some are ones they have already known and some are new. Each child also has a speaking part in the program. These programs teach what they know about Jesus Christ and his mission and how they can return to live with him.
Today was that program. It is always fun to walk into the chapel and see all the children and their teachers in the choir seats. My favorites to watch are always the Sunbeams. These are the children that are brand new into Primary. They are 3-5 years old. Mr. J is a Sunbeam this year so he was front and center, right next to the podium. He was so cute up there with his sharp new haircut, white shirt and tie---oh wait--his tie was missing! I kept watching him throughout the Sacrament. He would sit quietly, then he would mess his hair up. He would then look over to Hunter and pull a face. Then he would look into the audience and smoosh his face up. After putting his hands in his mouth and almost sticking out his tongue, he would fold his arms and lay on the stand(they were behind the stand). This would last about thirty seconds and the entire scene would repeat- with the exception of the hair rubbing, he must have gotten tired of that.
After the Sacrament was finished the children's portion of the meeting began. The children would carefully watch the music director as she guided them with her hands to nicely stand to sing their song. J would JUMP out of his chair. The song would begin, he would sing the first two words and then stop. Occasionally, he would sing the last word of a phrase. Mostly, he stood there and looked awfully cute. The other children started saying their parts. J was starting to get tired, so at this point he started to lay on the pulpit. It is a pulpit that has a base and then center that raises up and down according to the speakers height. He would lay his head down, and then sit up, pull faces at Hunter, notice Mom, smile his cute smile, and then he would lay his head down again. During one of his quick naps he turned his head a bit too much and GOT HIS HEAD STUCK under the center of the podium! STUCK!!!! He went to move his head and realized it was stuck and freaked a bit, while doing so raised his head up and smacked the pulpit. He grabbed his head and dropped to the floor. Except for the little autistic boy that sang every song with GUSTO, my little J man was certainly my entertainment throughout the program! He did say his part when asked, it wasn't too hard. He was asked who got baptized in the River Jordan---he answered; Jesus.
I love watching the children sing in this program. From the littlest Sunbeams in the front row to the oldest (11)boys in the back, they are all there in their varying moods. We have the little girl who is so excited that she sings every word perfectly and loudly. The boys in the back who are just about too cool to still be in Primary. They are barely singing at all. They are probably only giving a little lip service so that their Mom's won't get mad. The teachers and singing leaders work so hard teaching these children the principles of the gospel every single week. I am so grateful that there are people that are willing to take two hours of their church time to teach these young spirits. They really do learn more than it seems.
Today was the last time I will have a little Sunbeam on the front row. As I watched him lay his sweet little sassy head down on that stand I thought what a joy he has been(most of the time).
These sweet little babies grow up much too fast.
