Yesterday evening, we had a thunderstorm in our area. If you ever get to experience this with my children, you will see how different they really are. Brayden ran from window to window looking at the rain and lightning. Danae almost made me fall by holding onto my dress and following my every step.
She is TERRIFIED of the sound of thunder. Actually, she's afraid of quite a few things. A while ago, we adopted the practice of talking about the fear, reassuring her that everything will be okay, and praying about it. So, she came to me and asked me to sit on the sofa with her so we could wrap ourselves in the blanket during the storm. I reminded her that I was still cooking so I couldn't do that. But, I told her she could stay in the kitchen with me. She did, while holding onto my dress the entire time. Brayden came to pat her on the back a couple of times but he was too excited by the noise so he didn't stay long.
I asked Danae what made her afraid of thunder. She said it was loud. I told her she likes other loud things and told her noise can't hurt you. She said it sounds like it's going to break something. So, I told her we don't have to be afraid because God is there to protect us. She said she knows that but she doesn't know where he is because she's never seen him. Then, she asked me "Where is God?" I told her he's everywhere all the time. She said "but I really need to see him today." I said he lives inside us so we can't see him just like we can't see our hearts or stomachs. She then said "Okay, but I have to be good so I can see him in heaven." So, we prayed that God will make her feel safe and not so afraid. It worked.
It's hard to explain some things to children. Luckily, they accept what we say but these discussions really make you think. How do you explain God to someone who doesn't know him?
She is TERRIFIED of the sound of thunder. Actually, she's afraid of quite a few things. A while ago, we adopted the practice of talking about the fear, reassuring her that everything will be okay, and praying about it. So, she came to me and asked me to sit on the sofa with her so we could wrap ourselves in the blanket during the storm. I reminded her that I was still cooking so I couldn't do that. But, I told her she could stay in the kitchen with me. She did, while holding onto my dress the entire time. Brayden came to pat her on the back a couple of times but he was too excited by the noise so he didn't stay long.
I asked Danae what made her afraid of thunder. She said it was loud. I told her she likes other loud things and told her noise can't hurt you. She said it sounds like it's going to break something. So, I told her we don't have to be afraid because God is there to protect us. She said she knows that but she doesn't know where he is because she's never seen him. Then, she asked me "Where is God?" I told her he's everywhere all the time. She said "but I really need to see him today." I said he lives inside us so we can't see him just like we can't see our hearts or stomachs. She then said "Okay, but I have to be good so I can see him in heaven." So, we prayed that God will make her feel safe and not so afraid. It worked.
It's hard to explain some things to children. Luckily, they accept what we say but these discussions really make you think. How do you explain God to someone who doesn't know him?
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