His very own Reverence Mouse that he named "Rosie"
My boy has been a little naughty during Sacrament the last few months... and this last Sunday it came to my husbands mind that "Reverence starts at home". So we decided we would take the challenge to become better at family prayer, FHE and scripture reading. We feel we could all be more reverent as a family.
Monday's FHE lesson came from this website, the posts name is REVERENT ME. I found it perfect for my little guy not only for the reverence lesson, but also because he has been asking for a mouse. I can't bring myself to even consider it! A mouse...Never! So this is a compromise that I think will work.
We began by asking him what being reverent means. He is only 3 and he gave a pretty good answer! "I be quiet and I listen and fold my arms like this" he said.
From there we talked about how we act when we are in church and what are body parts should be doing when we are in the chapel, during the sacrament, in the hall, during class and prayers etc..
Then I read him this poem, pulling out the mouse I had made him from my pocket letting it sit on my hand as I read. I would pause after every question to let him answer yes or no. He loved it.
“What If?”
(by Dalee C James)
If a mouse would ride to church
In your pocket on this day,
What might he tell his family
That he heard you do or say?
Would he tell them you were reverent,
And you listened to your teacher?
Or would he say he’d never seen
Such a noisy creature?
Would he tell them how he loved the songs
You sang so sweet and clear?
Or would he groan from all the talking
That entered in his ear?
Could he take a little snooze
As you walked nice and tall?
Or would he scream with panic
As you galloped down the hall?
Would the little mouse get seasick
From the tipping of your chair?
Or would he feel safe and cozy
As you quietly sat there?
Would the chapel be a reverent place?
The sacrament the same?
Now tell me, would the little mouse
Be really glad he came?
If a mouse would ride to church
In your pocket on this day,
What might he tell his family
That he heard you do or say?
This is a very special mouse we told him. "One that wants to go to church with you!" We asked him what he wants his mouse's name to be... "Rosie" he said. I continued "So Rosie will be put away during the week and come out on Sundays to go to church with us. Rosie will help you be reverent!" such excitement spread all over his face!
...We shall see this coming Sunday how well He handles "Reverent Rosie" and if she is as magical as I am praying her to be.
The lady I got this idea from had links to different mice that can be made, I didn't care for them much so I went to the ever so trusty PINTEREST and found this tutorial for the most adorable felt mouse ever! (note: mine does not look as well made as hers, but he loves it, and that is what matters.)
I had an old Jewlery box that I glued felt to the bottom and to one of the sides for the blanket, sewed a pillow and there you have it.
Such a great FHE lesson for us all :)
Such a great FHE lesson for us all :)
