Matthew has escaped once again. Three-year-old on the soccer field! Out into the middle game he darts. Dodging the bevy of eight-year-old superstars, his big sister among them, he makes a beeline for his daddy, the coach. I leave my lawn chair behind and make my way on to the field to fetch Matthew and save the game from sudden destruction. My son gives me the nod. “It’s OK. I’ve got him!” With one giant swoop Matthew is sitting on his daddy’s shoulders smiling like he just won the gold cup. The game goes on with father and son carrying out all coaching duties together. As the game come to an end Matthew follows right behind his daddy giving high fives to the opposing line up of little female soccer stars. My son takes his whistle and put it around Matt’s neck. It comes down to his little knobby knees. I sit in my lawn chair watching the two of them and think, “There is something bigger going on here than simply a dad being patient with his three-year-old at a soccer game.”
Matthew is in training for something wonderful, and I really think that to some degree this little guy knows it. The other night for their Family Home Evening Matt’s mom and dad told him and his sister Sammy and his baby brother Christopher the story of Lehi’s vision of the “strait” and narrow path. At the end of the lesson Matthew said, “I know—I’m going to follow Father and Christopher is going to follow me.”
In President Eyring’s address to the priesthood last October 2011 he said, “Most of us must wonder to ourselves at times, ‘Am I prepared for this assignment in the priesthood?’ My answer is, ‘Yes, you have been prepared.’…Our Heavenly Father has been preparing us since we were taught at His knee in His kingdom before we were born…Because a veil of forgetfulness was placed over our minds at birth, we have had to find a way to relearn in this life what we once knew and defended.”
Matthew is about the work of remembering, and his daddy is part of the team of men and women placed in Matt’s life to wake up that memory
This call to go before and awaken divine memory in the sons and daughters of God is no small thing, but President Eyring assured us with these words: “ I promise you if you do all that you can, God will magnify your strength and your wisdom. He will season you. I promise you that those whom you train and set an example for will praise your name…” (Conference Report October 2011)
It’s important to keep in mind that not one of us will make all the difference in the life of someone following down the path—relearning. And if a trainee is serving time in the mission-field our work is still not completed and if he is serving time in the jail all is not lost. President Eyring simply encourages us to continue to “teach and show…through all our strength in what might appear to be little tasks with small consequences.
Several Saturdays ago Matthew’s sister Sammy was baptized and confirmed. As the men proceeded to circle up I took my paper and pen from my purse and got ready to record the blessing. All eyes were closed but mine as her daddy began to pronounce her a member of the church. That’s how I happened to notice my three year old grandson in training inch his way to the front of the room and squeeze his little pint-sized body between two uncles in the circle, his little hand reaching to touch his sister’s head. Matthew wants to join the circle. Matthew is remembering.
So if a brother darts out onto your field of influence today, think a minute before shooing him off the green. Whether he is six or ninety-six, swing him up onto your shoulders and give him a whistle. He is a coach in training. He’s remembering. He’s looking to take your post someday. Show him how it is done.
By Nannette W. posted Sunday, March 25, 20112
Copyright 2008 by Nannette W. All rights reserved. Making or sending copies is permitted if the page is not changed in any way and the material is not used for profit. This notice must be included on each copy made or sent.
Aunt Nan this one really made me think. Thanks for sharing.