I was sitting at the table eating lunch with Little Miss Sunshine and T-Rex yesterday when Little Miss suddenly asked, “Has Jesus come back yet?” I love it when she brings up questions about Jesus in conversation. Those are what I call “faith by the way” moments (based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Those questions show me that she’s thinking about things and it’s a chance for me as a mom to help explain a little bit of who we are and how we live.
I smiled at her and said, “No, Jesus hasn’t come back yet, but we want to be ready when He does.” She turned her head to one side and asked, “Be ready?” I compared getting ready for Jesus to come back in a framework she could understand – getting ready for Grandparents to come visit. “You know how we clean the house and put away our toys and get everything in order before the grandparents come visit? It’s kind of the same thing with Jesus. But we get ready for Him to come back by loving Him and loving the people around us.”
She got a big grin on her face and said, “I love Jesus! I’m ready! What happens when He comes back?”
“Well, we get to spend forever with Him!”
Suddenly she got a funny look on her face and said, “NO!! I don’t want to go to Heaven!! I want to go to Michigan!!!”
I tried for a minute to try to explain things further, but realized the moment was over. We had gone as far as her little mind could comprehend at the time and that was all that mattered. And I know it mattered because 5 minutes later, while still eating her turkey sandwich she started making up a song.
“I love my Jesus and I can be with Him. I love my Jeeesuuus and I can be with Him.”
Oh, that’s precious. And it shows you are totally raising them in the right environment and teaching them the right things! Good for you! I hope I am as good a mother!!!
Paige, you absolutely will be a WONDERFUL mother. I have no doubt about that at all. Can’t wait to see you in a few weeks! Any request on a handmade present? 🙂 I owe you a bag don’t I? What color would you like 🙂