Daughters & Dishes

Picture courtesy of morguefile.com (http://mrg.bz/lwcH1n)

Have you ever had a conversation that started one place and ended up somewhere else entirely? The kind that leave you scratching your head, how did we get here from there? Well, a few nights ago Belle and I were doing the dishes after dinner. She asked for some music and I popped in my Mamas and Papas cd. And that's where it all started, with just a simple question from Belle about whether or not the singers we were listening to were still alive.

Me: no, I know that one died from a drug overdose

B: what is that?

Me: an explanation of overdose, the 70's, and what rebellion is

B: but there is also good rebellion right? like when countries are fighting their leaders?

Me: yes, if they are fighting against having no freedom or not being able to worship the way they want.

B: Is Obama president of all those countries too?

Me: No.

B: I bet if he was he would let them worship God because I think he is a Godly man.

Me: I'm not so sure about that. He's making some decisions that I don't think are very Godly.

B: like what?

Me: Well, he is supporting abortion and I know that doesn't make Jesus very happy.

B: What exactly is abortion?

Me: explanation of abortion

B: I think sometimes abortion is ok.

Me: Really?

B: Yes, like when you are young, or in college, or aren't ready to handle having a baby or kids. Then it should be ok.

Me:Re-explaining what abortion is then asking: if you really aren't ready to have a baby or handle kids or are too young, do you think you should be giving your body to someone so that you may end up having a baby? Do you think you are too young to also be doing those things? That there might be a reason God wants you to wait until marriage to give your body to someone?

B: You mean every single person who is not married and has a baby has done that?

Me: Well yes, many have. But some have adopted children too. Even though they aren't married.

B: Well now I know why God says that about being married. But adoption is good. Only if I would adopt I would want to get a really little baby so they could know our language.

And with that, Belle skipped off into the living room.

Maybe what you saw during your read was a sporadic conversation between a mom and a daughter (and I did try and condense and leave out unnecessary details). But what I see when I read this and remember our talk is a God orchestrated moment to reach my little girl right where she was at: on a quest for Godly knowledge, developing her own little moral compass, navigating her way through some of the hardest topics to discuss.

And notice that Belle was the one with the questions. She was the one asking for more. She was really the one in charge of the conversation. And notice that I didn't over-react to a little girl saying abortion was ok - I knew she didn't know what she was talking about - I knew this was a teaching moment and not a correcting moment. If I'd have over done it the conversation would have ended in upset and ugly. Praise God I didn't.

Seize the day, seize the moments. Teach when it's time to teach. Tune in to what God is doing and shaping in your little ones at even the oddest of moments. I'm so thankful I did.

PS. A few days later, after giving the topic time to sink in, I asked Belle about abortion again and she said she had decided it was wrong all the time, no matter what.