gut laughs in the backseat

During the holidays, I'm always driving back and forth to my parents house for various festivities. And with three children, the backseat is f u l l. 

I have bags, diapers, backup outfits for each child (because every good mom has that in her car), food, my purse, coats for everyone, and winter gear. Needless to say, the car is truly and utterly full. I can't tell you how many times I make multiple trips in and out of my home or destination for loading and unloading stuff. 

It was one of these many trips where I learned a valuable lesson about the Lord.

Driving along, my seven month old son had developed this ever-so lovely scream that truly makes your neck muscles clench. It is divine. And the other side of that divine ability is that my three year old son loves to screech back and make his baby brother laugh. It was one of these thirty minute car rides that seemed a lot longer, where my two boys decided to do this scream-screech back and forth in the backseat. 

At first, my daughter (10 y.o.) and I were rolling our eyes at them with a gentle reminder, "Boys, not too loud...(in a pleasant voice)". But then, as the scream-screech evolved, it became the scream-laugh-screech-laugh. And I will tell you it was infectious.

My daughter broke first. And before I could say another warning word, I was laughing. Everyone was laughing.

We had all lost our minds. Laughing at these horrible sounds. Over and over again.

And it was then that I realized, this is what every parent wants. 

My kids are taken care of and they should be able to experience happiness. They should be able to laugh and enjoy life. I work so hard for them so that they can enjoy...

And it was almost a whisper from the Lord, "this is what I want for you, daughter."

And before I knew it, my laughter had changed to a smile, which ended with a grateful heart. 

theology and three year olds

Most of the conversations we have with our children consist of do's and don't's, rights and wrongs, food and clothing, etc. The little details of our day that you never think about until you have to help teach another little human how to function in a way that will prove to benefit them when they go into society.
You never consider that one day, out of nowhere, you will have to discuss life and death with a mind that doesn't understand the vocabulary you're used to but does understand the concepts.

Death. Every child is introduced in one form or another. You hope that your child doesn't have to experience too much trauma but some, and the measure of that some, is unavoidable. It is completely out of our hands as parents...
So what do you say to the tougher questions in life, the questions relating to death. Do you dress it up, commercialize it, much like Santa Claus for Christmas? Or do you teach the true meaning of Christmas? It is interesting to hear how parents create their versions of history for their children because they don't think children can understand the bigger concept.

Maybe my children are smarter than everyone else's. (smile) Well, of course they are!
But seriously...
I have been able to discuss Heaven, Hell, sin, salvation, atonement, confession, repentance, resurrection, eternity, and the trinity with my children as early as they can talk.
Much like food, you start with what's easy and work into what's harder to chew.
Trusting God. Omnipresence. Communion.
With a strict focus on concept, not vocabulary.

But they follow your lead.
So if you don't lead, or if you're lost yourself...then who is your child following?

and where?