The apple has fallen, and it is not very far from the tree.
Yesterday Chloe told me that as she was lying in bed the night before, she was trying to figure out why she was here.
"You mean, why we're here in New York?" I asked, rather slow on the uptake.
"No," she replied, "why I'm even here, why I'm alive."
"Did you figure it out?"
"Not really," she said.
(My brain shifted into high gear, and I paused to gather my thoughts and say a brief, "Help me do this right please, God," prayer. Also I sent a silent Thank You to the fellas who wrote Q&A 1 of the Westminster Catechism.)
"You're here because God knew you and loved you before you were even born, and God wants you to know and love him, too."
She was ok with that. I hope it's just the beginning of a life-long conversation.
Later, as I told Steve about our conversation, I had a strong memory of doing the same thing as Chloe--lying in bed, wondering, "If I was born to die, why was I ever born in the first place?" I wasn't 6 like Chloe, mind you, but I was pretty young.
"Well," said Steve, after I told him of my memory, "maybe you didn't know it fully at the time, but you weren't born to die. You were born to live. Fully. Through Christ."
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. Psalm 139:15
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:3,4
What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q&A 1
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
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2 comments:
Isn't it amazing that, even at such a young age, our children begin to question their purpose here on earth? It just goes to show that God created us to seek Him out . . . every human being wonders at some point why they're here . . . thankfully Chloe has wonderful, loving, Christian parents to let her know at an early impressionable time why God created her!
I remember having similar thoughts quite young. I told my mom that I felt like a cartoon living in a body . . . already sensing that I was separate from my body . . . kids are the best . . . and the best at grasping deep theological things.
The Child and I had a very profound theological conversation just the other night. It's truly amazing to see how a child begins to own her own spirituality. And yeah, the whole, "Please help me say the right thing, Lord" prayer...so get that.
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