On Fridays, Gypsy Mama holds a blog carnival where we all stop and write for five minutes – no editing, no over-thinking, just write. Care to join us?
This week’s topic is: Gift
Brianna and I were discussing what she learned in Puggles last week, and she was happily telling me about how God and Jesus made her, and love her (and made Benjamin, and Mommy, and Daddy, and her friends, etc). Then she asked me, “IF God and Jesus love me so much, can they come to my house?”
I stammered. I have no idea exactly what I said, other than I think I mentioned that God was special and he was always with us, and that God and Jesus live in heaven which is really far away. “Like Grandma’s house?” she asked. Well, kind of, maybe, I guess.
I have no idea when I expected theology questions form her. She’s three years old, so it’s understandable, but I’m so not ready. I feel totally inadequate to point her to the gift I’ve found in my relationship with God, the gifts I rediscover every day. I feel like I’m failing at this, and it bothers me a lot – I bought some books, reviewed my Cubbies material, started brainstorming ways to work spiritual truths into our everyday life…Maybe it’s time to buckle down and start devotions, to start her on some Bible memory – the scriptures can teach her much more effectively, I think, than I can.
My children are a gift to me from God – but in turn, I’m responsible for guiding them to him, so they can find the gift of Life… and that responsibility seems so huge right now.
Children are surprising, are they not? It is all so logical and practical in their little worlds. Show the gift of God’s love through your actions, your words, your stories of God’s grace in your life. Make it as normal and real for her as her peanut butter sandwich as lunch.
I appreciated your honesty.
Visiting from Five Minute Friday.
Thanks for your encouragement! She does view things very practically, and I think she’s still a little confused as to why we’re not loading up the truck and heading to heaven for the weekend. We have an amazing children’s program at church, which helps, too – but I’m praying I can learn to explain things correctly, and in an age appropriate way.
Oh, such a wnderful place to go with the prompt. I, too, have felt the same way — felt an enormous responsibility to pass along this gift of faith to my kids. It wasn’t until a pastor said to read Ephesians 4:6 word by word and take heart. It’s a step by step manual, that section, of how to pass the truths of God to our kids. It was so freeing. Thank you for sharing your heart here.
I love your take on the word gift. It is a huge responsibility to point our kids to Christ, but I think the main thing is to live our faith.