Teaching

Lily likes to look at the collage I made Jason for Christmas of our pictures from our Australia trip. I don't know if its just the reflection in the glass or if she is really memorized by the photos. He would point to each picture and tell what it was, it was cute because she was just starting at it wide eyed and attentive. He then pointed to the picture of the Sydney Temple and told Lily and said "This is the temple, its a special place. The temple means that you get to be with Mom and Dad forever and you'll get to go there someday." What a neat feeling it was for me to listen to him tell her what it meant to him. It got me to thinking that we as parents get to teach her the blessings that things like the Temple bring into our life.
I am excited I get to be teacher to her, but on the other hand it makes me nervous, this small person is totally dependant on me to show her what is right and wrong. I've noticed I have become more thoughtful of how my actions can effect those around me. I know soon enough she will be wanting to imitate every thing I do and I want to make sure when she does its not something I would be ashamed of. But then I think about how I don't want to create this being who is so 100% concerned about only making the right choice that she won't allow her mistakes to teach her. Of course I want to do everything to keep her from making choices that will hurt her. Sometimes that can be one of life's best lessons is to let mistakes teach us what not to do next time. Reading what I just wrote makes me laugh, I tend to worry so much about the future issues that I just have to remind my self that I know I will figure it all out when I have to deal with it, right now the only choices Lily has to make is to decide when she is hungry, tired or decides to give Mom the biggest diaper blowout she possibly can.