joshua is sitting at the counter on a stool, i'm standing at the counter. i've just gotten him a snack.
he looks up at me and says, "mom, what is hell?"
a million things run through my head in 1/2 a second - why is he asking, where did he hear the word? what is making him think of this now?
we begin quite the conversation.
i explain it's a very bad place. the devil lives there. it's full of darkness. and fire. and sadness. and madness. that when we die we either go to heaven or hell. i literally think he hasn't heard the word before and i can't believe we've missed teaching him it.
he asks if there are monsters there. i say no - because i always say "there's no such thing as monsters" - and i don't get into "demons" although they are pretty much monsters, huh?
he asks if there is a garage there - i say i have no idea and i'm not quite sure where that question came from.
he asks if there are bad people there. i say yes, lots of bad people.
he thinks for a minute.
he asks, "if i do bad things do i have to go there?" this is right where i needed this conversation to go. i get to explain how Jesus dying on the cross and paying for our sins (bad things) allows us who believe in Him to go to heaven instead of hell. how we all DESERVE to go to hell. and he totally understood that since we've just been talking all about Easter for a couple weeks! it was a very sweet conversation. i love seeing how my kids' brains work and process life.
could my job be any more fulfilling??
4 comments:
oh courtney, we just had the almost the exact same conversation at our house with holly. we have had so many questions about death and dying and heaven since we have been learning about Easter. we had a conversation about hell a few days ago with holly too although, she was way more into the heaven aspect and questions about that! i too love seeing how their minds work. we have read so many verses right before she goes to bed and she has so many awesome questions that even we as adults struggle with at times. i have been exhausted (because it seems like my brain quits functioning at about 5 pm these days!)the last couple of nights just answering questions appropriately for a 4 year old but so rewarded. a few nights ago after I had tucked her in and then went into our bedroom to put away laundry, she called for me. slightly irritated (figuring it was something about a needing a drink) i went into her. she said to me, "is there a refridgerator and pantry for our waffles, pancakes and syrup in heaven. is there a potty in heaven." oh my how their little brains work. so cute! sorry for the long post. i just had to share this.
thanks for sharing! it's fun to go through this "together" (across the miles :-))
An answer to your prayers from just the other day when you were feeling overwhelmed. God is so gracious.
You see? You are doing exactly what you should be doing - teaching these kids exactly where they are at. Isn't it a blessing to be able to hear those questions from them and answer them???
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