Conversations About God

Ladybug is getting to the age that we are starting to have "real" conversations. She remembers what we've talked about before, she is showing critical thinking skills, and most importantly, she is insatiably curious.

The other night at bedtime, she and I were laying in the bed, and I was singing to her. I always try to pick songs that have nuggets of truth about the Christian faith. Music is such a powerful teaching medium, and I know that these songs will stick with her for years to come.

So I was singing some made up lyrics to "Don't Leave Nobody But the Baby" from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. My lyrics are:

Go to sleep, you little baby; Go to sleep, you little baby.
Mama's right here and Daddy's close by,
And God is watching over us.

(No, it doesn't rhyme.)

Ladybug will sign the words that she knows, and sometimes even signs the words on me. She'll sign "mama" and "daddy." I reminded her of the sign for "God." Then she asked, "Where's God?"

Oh, my heart leaped for joy! The moment I've been waiting for!

You see, I have a master's degree in ministry. And people often ask why I'm "not using" my degree. I am. The most important ministry I could ever have is right here in my own home with my own family. Hubby and I together have the awesome, amazing responsibility of teaching our daughter about God.

The rest of the conversation went like this.

Me: God is everywhere.

LB: God's outside?

Me: Yes, God is outside.

LB: God's inside?

Me: Yes, God is inside too. And God and Jesus are the same. Where is Jesus? (We've discussed this before.)

LB: (points to her heart) Jesus in my heart.

And my heart melted. All of the sacrifices of living on a reduced income so that I can be a stay-at-home mom are worth it to know that my child is understanding who God is and how much He loves her.

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9