Mom, will you ask God...

When you were a child did you listen to what was said in church? I'm kind of ashamed to admit it, but as a kid I don't remember listening to anything that was said in church. I guess I always thought that what ever was being said was only for adults. I did know though, that I was suppose to be quiet and sit patiently until the last "Amen" song and then we could go home.

I guess I just assumed the same situation would happen with Gabriel and Michael when we took them to church. However, after the last few weeks I've found out that not only are Gabriel and Michael sitting quietly while we are in church, but they are also listening attentively.

Every week at church before communion the priest recites the Communion Rite and talks about the Body and Blood of Christ. For the last few weeks every time Gabriel and Michael hear the word blood they turn to me and whisper "Mom, why did he say blood?" I whisper back that I'll explain later and we move on with the rest of the service. Until last week, I had forgotten to explain to the boys why Father Gary always says that and so I did my best to explain the whole story of why God died for us. Trying to explain such a complex story in 3- and 4-year-old terms was quite a challenge, so I tried to simplify it by saying, "God died so that we can live and when he passed away he was bleeding. That is why they say body and blood of Christ." The boys seemed to understand it at that point, but now they are truly inquisitive about God, Jesus Christ and Heaven. In the car today we had a conversation about Heaven. It went like this...

Michael: "Mom, tell me the story about God and Grandma Virginia?"
Me: "Well Michael, God wanted Grandma Virginia to join him in Heaven so she passed away to go and be with him."
Gabriel: "Why does she live in Heaven?"
Me: "Well she lives there because she wants to be with God."
Michael: "Oh, can I live in Heaven?"
Me: "Um, honey not now, you have to stay here with us for a long long long long long long time. You won't go to Heaven until you are really really really really old okay?"
Michael: "Mom, will you go to Heaven?"
Me: "I really hope so honey but again not for a long long long long long time, okay?"
Michael: "Mom, when you go to Heaven, I will go with you so you don't have to go alone okay?"
Me (with tears in my eyes): "Honey, that is really nice of you to say.
Michael: "Mom, will you ask God if I can go with you?"
Me:"Um, we'lll see honey, I think God will want you to stay here."
Gabriel: "Mom, if we go to Heaven, who will stay in our house?"
Me: "Um, I don't know Gabriel."
Gabriel: "Mom, will you ask God to keep our house for us when we go to Heaven so no one takes it?"
Me: "Sure, now look over there, there's a fire truck."

Thank goodness for distractions. I had no idea Church could bring up so many hard questions. I though at this age they'd only be asking me, "Mom, what's that?" "Mom, can I have this?" "Mom, why do birds fly?" I think I can answer those questions, but the questions I've gotten today; wow, they are keeping me on my toes.

Until next time,
Angie