The new “F” word at our house is … F.U.N.
That’s right. F.U.N
Sometimes I feel like making FUN a garbage can word because I hear way too many times from my children…
“I don’t want to go to church. It’s not fun.”
“School is not fun. I don’t want to go.”
“I hate chores. They are not fun.”
(In prayers) “Please help us to have fun today.”
And just last week Crew called me on the phone. Our conversation went like this:
Crew: I am bored. What can I do?
Mom: Read a book. Clean your room. Practice the piano. Make a paper airplane.
Crew: (in a loud, whining, almost yelling voice) No! What can I do that is FUN?!!!!
Since when did “fun” become the gauge by which we determine our participation in an activity?
Because let me tell you children…
sweeping 4-5 times a day is not fun
changing your poopy diaper is not fun
waking up in the middle of the night is not fun
making your lunch is not fun
helping you with your homework is not fun
cleaning the toilet is not fun
If fun were the gauge for whether an activity was worth doing or not, no one would be married or have children or have a job. Very few people would be physically fit and even less would have an education, if life were all about fun.
Later Crew was in the car with Chad and me and we took that time to teach him about the new F word.
We talked about how there is much more to life than FUN. Experiences may be
rewarding (working hard)
necessary (cleaning the toilet)
helpful (helping with homework)
interesting (going to school)
challenging (practicing the piano)
uplifting (going to church)
required (changing a poopy diaper)
thought provoking (reading a book)
satisfying (cleaning your bedroom)
Turns out activities can have merit and worth even if they are not fun.
Now I still want my children to have fun. They are kids afterall! Bubbles, Wii, Play Dough, friends, and Disneyland all have their place. In fact we went tubing just yesterday and had FUN!
But I do want my children to understand that fun is NOT the end all – be all. Fun is not the only measuring tool or reason why we do things. It is only one of many good feelings that can bring us happiness and enjoyment out of life.
I’ve got a FUN family night lesson coming soon that will teach this principle!
![I spoke in church today and said the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the greatest act of Charity. I read Moroni 7:45-47 to make my point. But wherever there was the word ‘Charity’ I substituted it out for ‘the Atonement of Jesus Christ.’ See if these scripture verses now have new meaning for you:
“And the Atonement of Jesus Christ suffererth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth in the truth,
[The Atonement of Jesus Christ] beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not the Atonement of Jesus Christ, ye are nothing, for the Atonement of Jesus Christ never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-
But the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
So Easter really reminds us of love. The first and greatest commandment.](https://www.raisinglemons.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
Thank you for this post! So good! This applies to me at times too 🙂 thanks for sharing!
I totally agree with you! My kids in their prayers say, “Please bless that we can have fun at church (or school or wherever).” The purpose of church or school is not to have FUN! The purpose is to learn and feel the spirit etc….
and I would love to see your FHE lesson about it!