In our Primary, instead of a Birthday Present on our children’s birthday, they give them a dollar with this note:
At first Truman was a little confused, and to be honest, a little upset.
He wanted to buy a powerranger. And was kind of confused why someone would give him money, and then he had to give it all away.
But then we began to think of ideas of what we could do with the money, we made a list.
He got more excited, and made his choice, take it to Chuck E. Cheese on his birthday. And give to someone who doesn’t have any tokens.
After this decision was made, he was really excited!
The night of his birthday came, and off the boys went…after they had been there for a few minutes, Toph noticed a little boy looking around for tokens… under all the machines, and quietly pointed him out to Truman. Toph described him as the little boy without sleeves. Truman ran right up and gave him the money.
Afterwords he told me it felt really good.
Then the following Sunday at Primary, he stood up to tell about his birthday dollar experience, his words: ‘I took money to Chuck E. Cheese. I found a little boy who had no money. He didn’t even have enough money for sleeves. And I gave it to him. And it made me happy.’
( I laughed out loud about the no sleeves part!) It was such good experience, and I am grateful he had the opportunity to give in the way he wanted. And now we have decided to keep that list, and do more of the good deeds listed, on a more regular basis.
