I Can’t See God February 4, 2014

The biggness of God is a difficult thing to teach to Ellie. We talk about how God made us and is powerful in and through stories. Ellie understands that we love God and he loves us. In modeling our faith, we talk to God throughout the day and about God when the opportunity arises.

The other day Ellie and I were talking as we drank tea and ate a snack and I suggested that we “talk to God about that.” Ellie just looked at me. “How can we talk to God?” she wondered out loud, ” but I don’t see him.” I tried to explain that God is always here with us.  Even if we can’t see him, he can hear what we are saying. Ellie logically looked out the window and asked if God was outside (i.e. I can’t see him but he must be really close to hear what I am saying). I sort of agreed with that while trying to say yes and he is also here as well. Ellie simply looked out the window harder, maybe she would see God.

It’s not easy trying to describe God in a way my two year old understands. I mean, God is so big and indescribable can any of us fully understand him before we get to heaven? While I will continue to share who God is with Ellie, I realize how easy it is for all of us to go about our daily lives and not “see God.” Load after load of laundry coupled with loads of dishes to be constantly washed, stories to be read, a dog to be walked, toys to be played with and then put away; really, a never-ending life to be lived. Wouldn’t it be easier to spend time with God if we could see him? Like a friend coming over to spend time with us. And yet, he is here with us every moment of the day. Present, and yet invisible. I may not be able to see God visibly, but I want to really spend time with him every day.

Discipleship: Toddler Style October 31, 2012

I’ve been thinking a lot about discipling my toddler since my last post. At what age is it best to start talking about spiritual things? How much of what we talk about concerning spirituality does Ellie understand?

On the one side, Ellie knows when we are praying and will finish a prayer (or if someone is praying long, try to help finish) with a resounding A-Men. We also talk about God throughout the day.

On the other side, I don’t think that Ellie fully understands that the stories Daddy tells at night are different than the stories we tell during the day. That a prayer book or Bible with pictures is different than other storybooks. She surely doesn’t get that sometimes music is for fun and sometimes it is to praise God. How do I know that?

When we worship during church service, either Andy or I hold Ellie. We don’t want her to be running around, as well as we want worship to be a time of engagement for us and Ellie, no matter her age. She claps when we clap and even raises her little arms when others do so. She is engaged and learning what worship before God looks like. But later, at home, we might turn on some music and Ellie will clap along and sometimes even raise her hands, just like in worship. Very precious, but I don’t think she understands the difference.

I don’t think there is a perfect time to start. If I wait until Ellie understands everything, then it will feel like a new thing. Like, why didn’t we do this before if it’s so important? So we are laying the groundwork now. We are laying a foundation that prayer and worship and spending time with God are important. Not that Ellie needs to understand the what and the whys, but that she would sense that God is important to us. That our lives revolve around Him.

How do you introduce and teach your children about God? I would love to hear the ways you do it, so I can get more ideas for discipling Ellie.