- They almost all came into the bishop's office within a few minutes of our turn starting
- They actually stayed in their seats for most of the meeting
- They didn't write on the walls with markers
- They had a great learning moment with our bishop
Sure they were wild and crazy and chased around the gym and halls while we waited for our appointment. But hey, we've had worse ... much worse.
Our bishop was great. He thoughtfully and kindly taught our children not only why we pay tithing, how the Church uses tithing funds, and the importance of declaring our tithing status with the bishop each year.
Then the bishop asked each child to state whether or not they were "a full tithe payer." It was nice watching our girls cheerfully and excitedly blurt out "yes!" when each was asked. When the bishop asked our son, we had to pull the ear buds of Mommy's iPod out of his ears to compel him to hear and answer the question. He answered "yes," but was obviously annoyed at the interruption of his search for Star Wars video clips. (Isn't technology great at keeping kids still for at least a minute or so?! :)
The best part of the meeting was when our bishop asked us all if we had any questions. Our son and younger daughter shot up their hands, eager to ask a question. Our son was called on first. He asked some vague question that was probably loosely relevant to the purpose of the meeting. Then the bishop called on our daughter. I was charmed by the way she grinned with little bright white teeth gleaming and her head slightly cocked to one side as she asked, "um ... where do you sleep?" It was so adorable to witness her naive, but sincere curiosity in such a simple little question. The thought of the bishop taking up residence in a Mormon church, huddled in some corner classroom on a cot was so humorous to me. And never mind the thought of the poor former bishop, released just a year ago, displaced from his "home" just days before Christmas. Of course the bishop was very kind in his answer. He just smiled, perhaps holding back a chortle, and answered simply that he was just like our family, and had a home nearby, with a nice warm bed to sleep in.
Of course, to our young daughter, it seemed natural to assume that the bishop lived at the church building. She only ever really saw him at the church. Or, at least, if she did see him elsewhere, he wasn't dressed up in his suit. This was her first year in the main primary as well. So she is still learning so much and figuring out how things work. And of course, she had seen lots of the church building, nearly every hall, chapel, and room. There was a kitchen, and bathrooms. But she hadn't ever come across a room with a bed in it! Hmmm.
I guess it just goes to show how much the bishop really does do for us. It truly is nearly a full-time job in and of itself, despite the lack of pay. Yet the bishop, of course, still has his own family and non-ecclesiastical career to maintain. It truly must be possible only with a great deal of divine help. It's definitely a post I would not feel up to holding. I am extremely grateful to those whom the Lord does prepare and help to be called to such a position.
