Meridian Magazine :: Family Home Evening: Drawing the Short Straw

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Drawing the Short Straw
By C.S. Bezas

This easy Family Home Evening lesson will teach an important lesson—that whereas life at times is not fair, Heavenly Father always is. Time for some FHE Fun!

FHE Fun!

Opening Song: #335 Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

Opening Prayer: By invitation.

Devotional: Invite any family member who cares to share a favorite scripture to do so and to share briefly why it matters to him or her. This brings a sweet spirit to the home and is a great way to start off a Family Home Evening!

Activity:

Items Needed:

Straws (or even hay, if possible)
Family journal and pen

(In advance, cut several straws into identical lengths—except one. Make it a unique, much shorter length. Have one length for every member of the family.)

Hold up the group of straws, making sure that the lengths are camouflaged. In other words, hide the lengths in the palm of your hand and make sure the tips that show appear to be all the same length.
Each member of the group selects one straw. He or she who selects the short straw does the dishes for a week.

Once the activity is finished, allow discussion and even venting by the one who chose the short straw. Ask the group if the activity was fair. If not, why? How was this unfairness like results at times in the world?

Reassure the group that Heavenly Father is different. He blesses His children; He loves them all. We learn the following from the Lord as written in the New Testament:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

"And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

"Be ye therefore perfect [complete, finished, fully developed], even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt 5:43-48, emphasis added).

Application:

How encouraging it is to know that Heavenly Father loves all His children the same. Even if we make mistakes, His love will not disappear! It is also essential to know that to please Him we are to love one another equally during this lifetime.

Ask the family to brainstorm and pray for several ways to improve in this principle toward others over the next several weeks. Record the ideas in a family journal for follow-up (starting with throwing away the shortest straw and its unfair dish-duty assignment)!

Closing Song: #221 Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd

Closing Prayer: By invitation.

Refreshments: This popcorn recipe website http://www.popcorn.org/nutrition/recipes/index.cfm contains terrific choices for fun popcorn recipes. Not only are these tasty choices, but in popping the popcorn the children will notice that not all kernels pop. It's just one more reinforcement that whereas earth life may not always be fair or perfect, God's love is.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

To better understand the at-times confusing nature of life, these scriptures and General Conference talks can shed additional light on God's perspective regarding when He showers blessings and when He withholds them:

1 Nephi 17:35, 38: "Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God....And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes ." An option might be to discuss why cursing the land would be for the sake of the wicked. What or why do difficulties sometimes help a person?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "The Atonement and Faith," Liahona , Apr 2008, 8-13: Elder Oaks teaches us that at times there are very good reasons for suffering.

Elder Keith R. Edwards, "That They Might Know Thee," Ensign , Nov 2006, 99-101: The pathway to deeper understanding of Christ at times is strewn with difficult lessons.

Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Joy Cometh in the Morning," Ensign , Nov 1986, 67: Elder Nelson teaches the sure path to joy and to understanding of God's goodness and love for all.

Struggling with your teens? C.S. Bezas' book is an essential help for parents and youth leaders. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers teaches you how to create powerful change. Visit your local LDS bookstore or get your copy online here.

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About the Author:

C.S. Bezas graduated from BYU in communications, with an emphasis in human resource development and training programs. She also took seminary teacher-training classes while studying at BYU, looking forward to the day when she might join the ranks of the Lord’s seminary teachers. She now teaches early-morning seminary in the southeastern portion of the United States. Additionally, she has conducted trainings and workshops for audiences on a variety of topics and has won recognition for her writings and stage musicals.

C.S. Bezas has appeared as a keynote speaker and before audiences on television, stage, and film. Her book Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers has been called essential for those who work with teens and for parents. She is the creator of a soothing-music CD series found at CSBezasMusic.com. She and her husband have four children and relish the gospel of Jesus Christ.