New Beginning

I love new beginnings.

A new year is a good opportunity to try again--a little better, a little harder.  But, so is every new day, which is why I feel so grateful for prayer and repentance.  What a gift to start each new day with prayer, and ask for that extra bit of strength to make good with your time and resources.  What a gift to seek repentance for falling short (again) and feel hope in the fact that you can, and always will, have another chance to improve.

January actually did bring one official new beginning: a new calling at church.  I am currently the visiting teaching supervisor, was a short-term Relief Society substitute teacher, and now, I am also a Primary teacher.  My assignment is with the four-turning-five-year-old children, including one severally autistic little boy.  I was 18 the last time I had an official Primary calling, so I have some learning to do, but I already love it.  The children in my class are adorable.

The autistic boy in my class cannot talk, still wears diapers, rarely makes eye contact, wanders the room aimlessly, and seems wholly disconnected from everything we are doing--until I sang a song.  

Last week, in class we sang one of my favorite Primary songs, "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus".  The other children were listening, but were also fidgety, and slightly distracted by other attentions.  The darling little autistic boy, however, stopped in mid-stride when the song started, and didn't move a muscle until the last notes concluded.  It was miraculous.  He was absolutely riveted by every note; it was obvious that his little spirit connected with the message of the music.

I am excited to see what this year will bring for these precious children as we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ together.