What the Jordan midgets taught me.

I have worked with children for eight years, now. And children have taught me that children can teach me valuable lessons. :) Sometimes, when you learn a lesson, you learn it best when taught to you by a child.

For example, the three kids I'm about to tell you about are kids of dear friends of ours. I spend time with them weekly, if not more. they are very dear to my heart, and they are three very different individuals.

Only two pictured here, but I love this picture :P
So here are some lessons that I have learned from the Jordan children. :)



KYLEY GRACE JORDAN

• Kyley has taught me many things over the years. One of my favorites is how to give. Kyley gives with everything she has. On day Kyley found out that I was raising support to be a full time missionary. She immediately emptied her piggy (or rather, doggy) bank, all the change she found in the car, and then wished she hadn't spent her dollar on this or that earlier in the week. The total at the time came to $4.01. My first official donation as a full time missionary. But she gave me so much more than that. 

ELIJAH FRANKLIN JORDAN

•  Since the day he met the guy who would eventually become my husband, Elijah has taught me how to be a friend. From that day, Elijah has stuck to Peden like glue. They play together. They talk (or rather, sometimes, Elijah talks and Peden nods and widens his eyes like he understands). If I come over to the house during the week (alone), Elijah always asks, "Where's Pe-DEN?" If Peden has missed small group because of work a few weeks in a row, I have to promise (cross my heart) to bring him around soon. Elijah, like a true friend,  craves time with Peden. not to gain anything from him, or any other reason than to sit next to him, sometimes.  
• Elijah taught me (or rather reminded me. I don't need help with this one.) to be carefree. Let me demonstrate:

"Hey Derek (the dad), can I..." "If he'll hold still long enough." And thus: my husband's masterpiece on Elijah's face. He went to church and Walmart like this. Like a boss. It was even faintly on his face for days. So don't worry about what people think of you. Be your own kind of cool. :)

 
ASHER JOHN JORDAN

• One of the first things I remember Asher teaching me was how to forgive. One day, shortly after Asher started walking I think, he was standing in front of me while I was sitting on the floor. Intending to play with him and make him laugh, I grabbed him from behind without warning and pulled him into my lap. However, I accidentally startled him, and he began to cry. He went to his mommy and she snuggled him until he was calm. I looked into his face and said, "I'm so sorry, Asher!" At that moment he reached over and came into my lap, just long enough to hug me around the neck, then went back to Melanie. I had never seen a child so young forgive so deliberately. 
• Asher has also taught me that, sometimes, you just need to cry and have a paci. I can't remember why, but one day I was laying on Melanie's couch crying. Asher went out of my sight, and when he wobbled back to me, his hand was outstretched toward me. In it was one of his favorite pacifiers. Nothing is more comforting than a kid willing to give you his favorite paci. His eyes practically spoke to me: "It's ok, nanas. Here. Just cry until it feels better."

NOTES:
1. All pics taken by the fabulous photographer, Melanie Jordan, whom these kids call mommy. She is the most awesome picture making person I know. If you are ever in need of her services, check out her pics and contacts her on her photography facebook page

2. If you're just craving more of these youngins, (I always am) we have a small bible study group that meets Friday nights. :)  Because who doesn't want to study God's word with a bunch of little ones hovering around you like colliding planets?

SO, in conclusion, I have lots of children in my life, my favorites including my nephew Tony, my niece Layla, the three aforementioned monsters, my own tiny that I barely know, and the list goes on. They all show me that children can teach us so many things better than we can learn them elsewhere.

What is something you learned best from a munchkin (aka, tiny, youngin, ankle-biter, chirren, etc.)? A kid. :)