Bye primary class...sniffle, sniffle.

Yesterday was the primary program at church. Nick was sitting up on the stand for moral support, I guess. I guess they didn't want me to sit up on the stand because it might be uncomfortable, or Nick and I might be tempted to kiss or something equally horrid. So I sat by myself in the pews while the children trotted forward to say their lines.

The theme for this year has been how various aspects of the gospel can bless our families. The program was done well by the new primary presidency. We have been released, sort of, or at least notified of being released (something that hasn't been done all that much in previous wards to me). They haven't announced the release in sacrament meeting yet but decided that we needed substitutes for our class so we wouldn't have to teach it anymore.

I didn't really understand why this was necessary so soon. I mean, yeah I'm having a baby but I have a few more weeks that I can handle normal life...I think. We actually asked to keep our calling but apparently it wasn't meant to happen. It turns out that one of the substitutes that took our class yesterday is our new home teacher. I asked him how he liked teaching that class and he said it was totally different than what he would have expected.

"They just sat there and listened. And then they gave really good answers when we asked them questions. And one of the boys knew who every single prophet was and a story about his life. It was amazing!"

So now maybe you know why we didn't want to be released. I don't know if the kids knew what was going on, but when I walked past them on the way to RS I heard them say, "hey look there is Sister Swenson". Probably wondering why we weren't teaching when we weren't officially released. That's okay, I was wondering the same thing. We even lost our primary manual a couple weeks ago.

In conclusion, I'd just like to say that sometimes we get callings where we are probably meant to learn from those we serve- more than they learn from us. Since there isn't any way to really measure how much each life is affected, I just think now that any calling we get is a chance for us to teach as well as learn. Teaching this class helped me realize that it is possible to raise children in the gospel who have amazingly solid testimonies. And ones that are really gospel smart and are interested in what we teach them. I now have a goal to create these kind of children in my home.

I remember when I was young and the leaders and teachers we had at church and in seminary would always say that our generation was special, chosen, or whatever. And I always kind of doubted or just shrunk from feeling like I was any better than any other generation. But now I feel the same way about the kids I have known while teaching. I was definitely not that righteous, aware, and strong in the gospel as they are (when I was that age). I think I was generally a good person but they are all really solid kids. I loved being around them for the short time I was allowed to be there.

I think in my next calling I'm going to not take it for granted. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it. I hope my little story has inspired you all to do the best in your callings and not take them for granted. Learn everything you can and teach what you already know.