You Can Tell They're Loved

When we were on our mini vacation (last post) we attended the sacrament meeting at a random church house in Sandy. We didn't know anybody. We just wanted to be able to partake of the sacrament and enjoy the meeting before heading to Wolf Creek.

Three interesting things happened that Sunday morning. First, a little joke. On the way to the assumed 9:00 am sacrament meeting, we joked that maybe this ward held sacrament meeting last, and that we would be super early for church. Austin just scoffed and said no wards do that anymore. He said he thought it was church standard to hold sacrament meeting first, then Sunday school, then priesthood/relief society meetings. I told him of an example of a friend's ward in Wyoming that holds it just the opposite. He proceeded to tell me that the church wasn't true in Wyoming (not really, but you know).

We drive up to the building, and there are a lot of cars parked around the church. We go inside and instead of prelude music being piped into the hallway, someone is giving a talk. Hmmm...curious? We weren't late, but no one was wandering the halls. No one scurrying. We found the library and inquired. We learned that church started at 8:30 and sacrament was last. :)

So, we left. Went back to the hotel, and backed up our bags and loaded our car. We came back a while later for sacrament meeting. While waiting in the foyer for Sunday school to finish, we sat across from a middle-aged couple. They didn't have any children with them (but we assumed they probably had teenagers). My children were being their typical selves. Super-friendly, non-shy kids that they are. Sharing toys, food, jokes, smiles, names and facts. "Hi. I'm Kalli, and I'm four."

The couple was nice and interacted with the children, but I always feel a need to apologize for the intrusion my children impose. I'm told them I was sorry and if they are bothering them, just let me know. The man just smiled at me and said, "It's okay. You can tell they're loved."

I should have asked him to expound on this, because I've been thinking on that comment for a while now. What did he mean? Could you tell they were loved because their faces were clean and their hair was combed? Was it a physical manifestation? Or maybe a behavioral? Are they loved because they are outgoing and confident? I know a lot of shy children that are extremely loved by their parents. So, I'm perplexed.

What do you think this means?

And, you can bet my children are loved. I love Kalli, even when she whacks her brother in the lip with a plastic bat and gives him a huge fat lip. And, I love Grant, even when he pulls on Kalli's hair non-stop just to hear her squeal. They are loved. Loved dearly.