I’m fabulous! ‘Cause God don’t make no junk!

I love being the Activity Day leader in charge of the 8-to 12-year-old girls in the ward. It’s a wonderful age.

This month I have two girls who turn twelve and will be moving up to the Young Women’s program as Beehives. I’m sad to see them go, but they are ready.

I have been their leader for the past year, and I take seriously the time I have with them. There is much I want them to know and hope to teach them. With two girls leaving at the same time, I was pondering if I had taught them all I could.

Both girls received their Faith in God Award. They worked really hard to finish it all, especially memorizing all 13 Articles of Faith.

But, I think there is more to the program than just earning the certificate.

For our last activity, we had a celebration honoring the two girls and the work all the girls have put in. They have learned many things in Activity Days, including baking, crafting, etiquette, life skills, beauty and modesty, gospel principles, leadership, fitness, homemaking, and sewing. But, what I really wanted to make sure the girls left knowing is that they are daughters of God who are loved. I love them. Their leaders love them. Their parents love them. And most importantly, God loves them. No matter what!

In Young Women’s they will recite the Young Women’s theme each week, which begins “We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us…” They will have this weekly reminder that they are loved, but I wanted them to hear it from me. I want them to realize the importance of that statement.

They are about to enter their teenage years which can be tough. They will make mistakes. Others will make mistakes too. They won’t be perfect, but they are still FABULOUS.

They are fabulous, ‘cause God don’t make no junk!

I had them each repeat it to me and made them promise to always remember it. We then talked about discovering and nurturing their unique talents, skills and abilities. We discussed self-worth, divine nature and individual worth.

Each girl secretly wrote a list of characteristics they admired in the other girls. I added things to the lists and will present it to each girl.

When they left, they were excited to tell their parents what they learned that night: I’m fabulous, ‘cause God don’t make no junk!