We read the bible almost every night to our kids, they go to Sunday School, and we have conversations about God. But you never know what they’re really picking up and what they’re not.
And what they’re pondering in their heart of hearts.
A few months ago, I had this conversation with Noah.
Noah: “They have cars in heaven.”
Me: “They do?”
Noah: “Yes. Last time we went there they had cars there. I played with them.”
Me, slowly turning and a bit scared, “uh. What?”
Noah: “At heaven. They have cars. And they had a Mater seat and I sat on it – ha!”
Me, wondering if Jesus sits on a seat shaped like a Pixar Character, “Can you say all that again?”
He enunciated it all again, very clearly and with no misunderstanding
I stared at him, confused and silent. Then Ali came to my rescue. “Oh Mom – He means the Blevins’ House! They have a Mater seat that he sat on.”
Noah: “Yeah – the Blevins.”
Blevins …. Heaven … a completely understandable misunderstanding.
After I shared that story with the Blevins, they actually passed on the Seat of Blessedness to Noah – their boys had outgrown it, and Noah needed a piece of heaven in his life.
And it has been well-loved.
I thought we had cleared up the differences between The Blevins and Heaven until last week.
I was rocking Noah and we were discussing all the things. He asked, “Is heaven at the Blevins’ house?”
“No…The Blevins house is not Heaven, as fun as it is.”
“Oh. Well. At the Blevins’ house do we not ever die?”
“No. That’s heaven – not the Blevins.”
“Oh. Well. When I get to heaven can I ask Jesus if angels wear shoes?”
“Yes. You absolutely may ask Him that.”
“Do you think Jesus has a beard?”
Because these are the important matters of faith.
From the backseat:
“Mommy, can I drive the car when I grow up?”
”Yup. In 12 birthdays.”
“Okay great. Now how do I turn on the Frozen soundtrack again?”
Noah had the hiccups.
Me: “When you were in my tummy, you got the hiccups all the time!”
Noah: “And then I turned into poop and came out!”
…thanks to my husband for Pre-K digestion lessons.
After an emotional day, I asked Noah at bedtime if he would please stay little forever.
At first he agreed, then said, “Well, no…in a few whiles I’ll be giant like you.”
Then he went on to add, “When YOU get bigger you’ll have a beard like Daddy.”
Because, scientific reasoning.
Noah, in trouble and trying to deflect…
(giggle) “You’re funny, Mommy.”
“Why am I funny?”
“Because Jesus Loves You! That’s why you’re funny.”
A small sampling of callbacks after bedtime:
“I have a fingernail problem!”
“I have good news and bad news. The good news is you like cuddling with me. The bad news is you can’t touch fireworks.”
And a couple from Ali…
Ali went to two weeks of summer day camp at our Church (voted the best in the city, I might add.) This week was Studio Week, where every team made a movie. On the way to camp this morning, she was telling me about the different movies.
“The Orange Team must be making ‘The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe’ because there was a girl who looked like Dorothy with a basket and a dog that looked like Toto inside of it.”
“You mean ‘The Wizard of Oz’?”
“Oh yes. ‘The Wizard of Oz’. I get them confused because the movies are so much alike.”
Just so you know I’ve failed as a parent.
We all sat down at the kitchen table – at the same time – with the table set and everything.
Ali gasped and said “We’re sitting here?? For dinner??? This is what Royals do!”
I swear we have regular family meals. I think.
You’re practically ROYALTY. According to Ali, who is an expert, if you ask me.
She is an expert. And I am. Because sometimes we eat on paper plates at an actual table.
I absolutely love (misplaced monarchist that I am) that your seven-year-old daughter knows what Royals are, and the things they do. She is clearly being properly educated on all the most important things in life. :)
You should hook Noah up with some Elvis Costello–he seems to believe that angels are barefoot, since they wanna wear his red shoes.
We have this great Usborne book about Princesses that has a section on how they really live. I would recommend it reading for everyone. Because apparently we measure up to its standards.