Conversations with Coulson

On being thankful:

"I am thankful for a good God that loves me, and toothbrushes and toy rocketships." (dictated to his preschool teacher for a Thanksgiving craft.)

Driving to my brother's house on Thanksgiving Day, we Casey and I were talking about what we were thankful for.  Several months ago a Newsweek article brought me to tears with the realization of how much I take my safety for granted.  It was an article about bombing in Palestine with a picture of a two year old.  In America, the parenting magazines warn us of a two-year-old's irrational fears such as monsters in the closet (or in Coulson's case - robots) etc.  As parents, our job is to reassure the child that he is safe and that his parents have created a safe environment for him.  So I was thinking of the parents in these war torn areas who aren't able to reassure their toddlers that they are safe and can't protect them from seemingly random bombings when I told Casey, "I'm thankful for safety."

Coulson broke my deep emotional thought: "Fire Safety?"

"Yes, Coulson.  Fire Safety."

 

On Sin and Salvation:

"Why Jesus die?"

"Because sometimes we do things that make God sad."

"Why because things make God sad?"

"Well, God is all good, and you need to be all good to be with God.  But we're not all good.  Sometimes Mommy does things that make God sad.  And sometimes Daddy does things that make God sad.  And sometimes Coulson does things that make God sad.  Do you do things that make God sad?"

"Yes." (quietly)

"Jesus was all good, but he died because we are not always good, so we can talk to God.  Does this make sense?

"Yes, It makes sense."

"Okay." (although by this point, I myself am confused.)

"But why God make Jesus die?"

Repeat explanation above. 

"Why God and Jesus?"

How do you explain the meaning of life to a two-year-old?  The parenting experts say to keep explanations short, but he keeps asking "Why?"

 

On Marriage:

"I like your ring, Mommy. I want a ring like yours."

"Daddy gave it to me.  Did you know that Daddy has a ring like mine?  I gave it to him."

"I want a ring."

"Someday when you grow up and there is someone special that you love very very much - someone not in your family (because we love our family very very much) maybe you'll exchange rings with that person."

"Maybe Noah, because he's not in our family."

Oh, that's a conversation for another day...

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