Betcha this kid's mama is proud...

I got this email today from my mother-in-law. I don't get a chance to read a lot of forwards, but this was worth reading to the end. I could imagine my little boy saying some of these things...This was a homework assignment, to 'explain God.' It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista , CA . Danny is in third grade. Way to go, Danny.

EXPLANATION OF GOD:

'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take
care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies.... I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he
doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers
and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears
everything, there must be a terrible lot ofnoise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his
time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'


'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who
come to our church.'
'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the
people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and
kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K...'

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go
out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things
which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary,
only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all
the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's
God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun
doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere
with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you
get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime
he pleases..

the meaning of holidays

This past year's Christmas was kind of overwhelming with gifts and hoopla. My children have reached the age when they want everything, and believe that Santa Claus will provide. I believe we, as parents, did this to ourselves, pushing the Santa business down their throats.
Then we get to Valentine's Day, and while we don't celebrate any visits from fictional gift-bearing characters, the kids have come to expect some sort of flashy red box containing nougat filled chocolates.
Fast forward to today, Easter Sunday. The most sacred of holidays, in my opinion. Except, again, the meaning of the holiday is shadowed by gifts...and in this case, it revolves around a giant bunny rabbit. Don't get me wrong, I think kids should have their fun. Heck, I loved Christmas and Easter when I was a child. The food, the fun, the family, and yep, the new stuff made for an excellent day.
So, not wanting to squelch their dreams of candy-filled eggs, I didn't put the kabash to Easter bunny festivities altogether. But I did decide it was time to intervene, and begin to explain to them why we believe holidays, and in particular, Easter, are so important.
Yesterday, I showed my boys excerpts (non-violent ones) from The Passion of the Christ. I wanted them to know about Jesus'crucifixion, and why we celebrate his victory over the grave.
While I'm not convinced they truly get it yet, the outcome was pleasing. Here are some of the things that came up in conversation as we watched:
Isaac: "So they beat him?"
Gabe: "They beating him?"
Me: "Yes, they were very awful to Jesus."
Isaac: "Well...I guess I'm not going to church tomorrow, if this is what happens when you go around Jesus on Easter."
Me: "This happened a long time ago. And God brought Jesus home after that, to Heaven, to forgive all of us on earth."
Isaac: "God gave him pretty good powers, I guess."

Then, today, the boys got their Easter baskets when they woke. They were, as expected, elated to find their goodies in the nests of plastic grass. Isaac put his things down, and said with a very serious tone: "Gabie, let's pray."
Gabe followed suit, bowing his head and clutching his hands together. Isaac began:
"Dear Easter Bunny..."
I interjected that we actually don't pray to the Easter Bunny.
Isaac cleared his throat again:
"Dear God...Thank you for telling your friend, the Easter Bunny, that we are good boys. Well, thank you for telling him that we are not bad boys all the time, I mean."
He opened one eye and looked at me, while I tried to remain composed.
"And thank you, too, for getting Jesus up today."

So, for now, I realize that Santa, God and the Easter Bunny are all on the same level for this kid.
Of course I know this will all have to be sorted out...
For right now, I'm just gonna be okay with it.