Remembering Dalloway's Blessing

How do you get your child to feel the presence of the Holy Ghost? I have always believed it takes more than just setting a good example: yes, I can take a casserole to a sick neighbor, but how is my child going to know that good feeling is the Holy Ghost unless I tell her it is? So not only do I have to create opportunities for the Holy Ghost to pay a visit, but I must then identify the feelings we have during those visits. So much responsibility. This part of being a mother has always scared me.

Fortunately, the Lord has been kind to me in this regard. But early signs suggested I was going to be an utter failure as a spiritual teacher. When explaining the Resurrection to Esme, then three years old, I explained with great sincerity and humility that Jesus rose from the tomb. A pause, a cock of my daughter's head as she looked at me with narrowed, thinking eyes. And then, a "Nawww!" as big as a yawn from the little one as if I had just told the best joke she'd ever heard. It sounds like a joke to a lot of grown-ups too, but I knew I had to do better.

My chance came last Christmas when we gathered as a family to bless Dalloway in my in-laws home. My older two daughters responded to the blessing with their individual personalities: Esme bowed her head and folded her arms, eager to follow the rules and be the responsible one. Auden, free spirit, stood directly in the middle of the circle of men, looking up from underneath to the father, grandfathers, uncles who held her baby sister above her head. "Mommy, mommy!" Esme tugged at me during the meal following the reverent moment. "I felt so happy when Dalloway was being blessed! I was sitting there and listening quietly and I just felt so happy."

And there it was, handed to me on a plate. "That was the Holy Ghost, telling you that what we were doing for Dalloway was good and special," I explained. There was no gafawing this time.

Last week, Esme and I sang together in my ward's Relief Society meeting. I pulled her out of Primary, had her sit with me in the back of the room during the announcements, and then she boldly stood in front of the upright piano. I played the introduction to "Teach Me To Walk in the LIght of His Love," one of our favorite Primary songs. Esme started the first verse alone, a clear voice free of any fear. I sang the second verse, the parent's verse, from the piano and we sang the last verse together. I had grown up singing this song with my own mother. My mom had seemed to feel the Spirit every time we sang it; she'd get all weepy and declare her love for me while I just squirmed, rolling my eyes, beside her. But I'm not my mom and Esme is not me: I got through the song without breaking down and it was Esme who was most touched by our duet. Out in the hall afterwards, before I took her back down to Primary, she hugged me as hard as she could.

"Remember Dalloway's blessing?" she whispered, arms still tight around me.

Comments

[eliza dawson]

These are the moments that make being a mom the best job on the planet! Love that little Es and love her mommy!

[Leisl Simmons]

Way to go Neylan, it is all about remembering. Just keep piling on those remembered experiences. Continued blessings to you all.