A Gentleman at Age 6

At school every day two of us call kids out one at a time to read with us in the hallway. Recently we got a new student which meant that we now only have 3 chairs for the hallway. Problem? Not really, I spend much of my time at school sitting on the floor, and so easily took the roll of floor-sitter. The kids all loved being able to sit on a chair and be taller than me for a few minutes that day; with the exception of one boy. He came out like all the rest and sat right down on that chair. Before I even handed him his reading folder he said, "Mrs. S, would you like to sit here?"
"No, that's alright, you can sit in the chair today."
Without another word, he got off the chair and came and sat on the floor by me. My heart melted. I am lucky to have met a six-year-old gentleman!

Childish? On Second Thought, Childlike

Me: "You're so smart!"

First Grader: "I know!"

Me: "Wow, you look so cute today!"

First Grader: "I look good every day!"

Kindergartener: "Mrs. S, guess what?"

Me: "What?"

Kindergartener: "I am the nicest girl in school!"

At first when I heard things like that I thought, "Typical childishness, I should giggle." And yet, their complete sincerity made sure that was never a reality. Instead it has led me to ponder on a difference between children and adults, and one reason why (I think) the Savior told us to be as little children. The difference is illustrated in the examples above. Children seem to be naturally aware of their talents and abilities and can declare them to the world with sincerity and humility. Contrast this with many adults (myself included): 

Adult 1: "You're so smart!"

Adult 2: (With sarcasm) "I know!" 

     OR

Adult 2: (Voice oozing the obviousness of the compliment) "I know." 

     OR

Adult 2: "Not really."/ "You're too sweet." / "If only I was as smart as you." / Changes Subject / etc.

Somewhere in our lives we seem to get confused and start to think that accepting or acknowledging that we have any talents and abilities is prideful and should not be done; or we decide that indeed, we have those talents and abilities, and that puts us on a pedestal far above the rest; or we think we don't have any skills to acknowledge.

I think that, perhaps, when Jesus told us to be as little children, this is one of the things that He meant. He meant that we can humbly and sincerely acknowledge the talents and gifts that we have--we can acknowledge these things without setting ourselves (in our own minds) on the highest of pedestals, and we can acknowledge that He has given each of us (ourselves included) gifts and talents to use on this earth. In fact, Jesus himself is the perfect example of this. There are many instances in the scriptures when Jesus testifies that He himself is the Savior of the World. There is no gift or talent or duty greater than that, and yet He was able to testify with sincerity and humility that He was indeed that person, THE son of God and Savior of the world. Never once did He declare that with sarcasm, with pride, or with a, "Stop it, it's no problem, you hardly need any saving." Instead, as children instinctively do, He stated with confidence, "I am the light and life of the world." 

My hope, for myself and each of you, is that we can give that some thought and learn to thankfully acknowledge the gifts and talents that we have been given. That if we receive compliments we can confidently accept them. That in an interview or on a resume we can humbly, but with complete sincerity, acknowledge the skills that we have been given and acquired. Each of us, as children of a Heavenly Father, has gifts and talents. May we learn to be like the Savior and like children so that we can be a happier more confident people!