Backpack

Your supplies for this lesson are a backpack and lots of books. Show the class or family the backpack and ask one person to put it on. Then hand them one book and ask them if they think it is very heavy or not. See if they would carry it in the backpack and ask them to estimate for how long they would feel very comfortable carrying it around. Then start putting in more books and as you do this describe the each book in some way. For example: This book represents when your teacher accused you of something you didn't do. This book represents the car that bashed in your door at the parking lot. This book is the brother that broke your favorite toy.....etc. Put as many books as possible into the back pack until it is loaded up and very heavy. Then ask the volunteer how long they could carry the backpack comfortably now. Go on to teach the lesson about how carrying grudges and staying bitter and mad at people does not empower us and help us in any way, but it is a heavy burden that makes it more difficult every day to remain close to the spirit and to live joyfully.