I saw a notice on one of the social networks about November being the month of THANKSgiving and challenging us to tell what we are thankful for each day of the month. So, I thought I would blog about this each day. They will be smaller than normal posts and will contain this same header.

Today, I am grateful for children. Not just my own children and grandchildren but all children. Children see the world in a different light than we, as adults see it. They see it as a whole big thing to explore and experience. They do not have the day-to-day responsilities such as a full time job and spend the majority of their time outside, with a book, watching TV, or being with other children. Younger children have greater dependence upon their parents to teach them correct principles. They seem to generally have a "believe everything" attitude until later in their childhood where they learn things from their peers or by watching or being influenced. 

The Savior taught us adults that we should:

 ...Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. - Matt. 19:14

 ...humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children. - Moroni 8:10

And who can forget one of the most spiritual events to occur with children and the Savior:

 And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought.

 So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him.

 And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground.

 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.

 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.

 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;

 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.

 And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

 And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

 And when he had done this he wept again;

 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

 And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children. - 3 Nephi 17:11-25

What a marvelous manifestation that was shown to the parents of those children. I try to put myself in that place and time, but every time I start to think about it, I also weep. Is it no wonder that, as the Family proclamation says in part, that:

Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. 

I am grateful for one of the best callings of my life - that is the calling of Dad and Grandpa. I'm grateful for my now grown up children, who are married and are also experiencing the joys of being a parent and receiving the noble titles of Mom and Dad. Children are an inheritance from The Lord.
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