A Tribute to Primary Workers

A Tribute to Primary Workers
(with regards to Dr Seuss)

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to great places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.

You needed a calling
To serve in the Ward.
The Bishop has spoken:
He checked with the Lord.

The children were waiting,
And wondering: WHO?
Then your Primary called:
They want to have YOU.

But you’re not on your own.
And you know what you know.
(There are signs on the doors
So you know where to go.)

Oh, the places you’ll go
With each girl and boy!
You’ll learn how to love them
And serve them with joy.

You’ll teach with the Spirit,
You’ll brighten their day.
You’ll know when to listen.
You’ll know when to play.

You’ll travel together.
You’ll walk hand in hand
To discover the wonders
Of Primary land.

Oh, the songs that you’ll sing!
Oh, the places you’ll go!
The puppets you’ll dress
And the bubbles you’ll blow.

Oh the places you’ll go.
The surprises you’ll meet.
And when the day’s over
The parents you’ll greet,

And you’ll have to decide
What to tell them today.
Do they need to know all?
Just what will you say?

Will you tell them your stories,
Your up-to-date news?
Who found ticks in their hair?
Who lost both their shoes?

For bad things can happen,
And happen they will.
That CTR ring
Can go down, like a pill!

The girls will get giggles,
And boys will be boys.
And sometimes you can’t even
Think through the noise.

Chairs can tip over,
And tables can fall,
And sometimes the children
Won’t listen at all.

But if you can keep them
Somewhere in plain sight,
And not ever lose them,
You will be all right.

Then what joy will be yours;
How your heart will delight
When all eyes are upon you
And everything’s right

In that sweet special time
When you know all can hear
The voice of the Spirit
Whispering near.

Oh, the joy you will feel,
And the places you’ll go,
When the Spirit is there
And you know that they know.

But before you can stop it
These children are grown.
And your Primary kids
Have kids of their own.

Your cubs become Eagles,
Fly out of the nest.
They go on their missions;
They pass every test.

Your girls grow to women
And fondly recall
Their Wednesday night fun:
Purple cookies and all!

And soon when they gather
Their children around,
They’ll surely remember
The love that they found

When a Primary teacher,
With voice soft and clear,
Told stories of Jesus
And made Him feel near.

Oh, the places they’ll go
And the joy they will find
When memories of Primary
Come to their mind.

So move on with courage.
There’s no time to rest.
Whatever your calling,
This work is the best.

Your Sunbeams and Valiants,
Your wolves and your bears,
Your Nursery tots,
And your sweet CTR’s

Are along on your journey,
This journey you know
Is never quite done:
You’ve got places to go.

You’ve got places to go,
You’ve got more things to do
Before this incredible
Journey is through.

Ann Cue
Madison Fourth Ward
Madison WI, 2009

A Special Sunday Experience

On Sunday I was invited to the 5-6-year-old Primary (Sunday School) class to be a guest speaker. I was asked to talk about Jesus. I told them a story from my own childhood, a strong memory from when I was about their age.
I had had very little in the way of religious education. Church services were in another language, and there was no religious discussion or prayer in the home. Then one day I received a little Golden Book of children's songs. (Yes, I was an early reader, and even played music on a small xylophone.) One of the songs was "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know." I had never heard it before. And I had never before heard the idea that someone named Jesus loved me. However, when I heard this song, the sweetest feeling came over me, and I knew it was true. Soon I was attending "catechism" classes, and learning all I could about the Saviour, a quest which led, eventually, to my discovery of the Restored Gospel and a much deeper understanding of Who He is, and just how much He does love me.