Comments on: Talking about religion on a rainy car ride. All things holy.

By: Ronna Detrick

Ronna Detrick — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:15:57 +0000

This could not be more beautiful or more perfect, Lindsey. I love who and how you are with your daughter and son; who and how they are with you. Indeed, incredibly holy. Total gift. Sacred. And oozing the Divine. Thank you for being the mother, woman, and writer you are.

By: Heather of the EO

Heather of the EO — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:18:20 +0000

Miles (my four year old) is asking these questions already. He goes to a Lutheran preschool, so sometimes he says things that BLOW MY MIND that I haven't been teaching him. We're Christians, and we teach him things slowly, hoping to mostly teach him (them) with how we live and love, but we don't really get into the bigger things like resurrection and such. And yet he asks about these things and I find myself attempting answers and then saying "I think God will tell you in you spirit as you grow and then you'll have an understanding, you just need to believe that." Cop out, maybe? I don't know… so tricky.

Anyway, I'm rambling. That last part about Grace being born on a holy night. Ugh, yes…a divine moment both then and in that car. Beautiful!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:27:16 +0000

And I have chills. Can you thank Grace for that? Because clearly she IS grace.

I have no idea how to talk about religion with my kids. Armed with such limited knowledge and such wide ideas of God, I shrivel at the small questions I have already been asked, and fear the bigger answer I have yet to conjure for my kids.

How can I be so inept, I think? How can I not have the answers I need--for them AND for me?

By: becca

becca — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:52:34 +0000

A beautiful post indeed. I just love the innocent, sweet conversations with our kids. No judgement, just curiosity. I have started reading up on all of the holidays we celebrate because I NEVER have the answer. Although, when Hannah asked me recently if Geez is Jesus's nickname, I was able to respond, "yes".

By: Corinne

Corinne — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:47:36 +0000

What a lovely conversation to have on a rainy night, or any! One of the hardest parts of parenting is keeping the answers to their question at their level. Telling the truth in ways they can grasp, and yet not underestimating them. Seems like your kids really have a wonderful handle already on their faith. (and I had good chuckle at the IVF bit… I've been known to go down those roads also, which don't go very far with a three year old!)

By: emmajames

emmajames — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:48:06 +0000

Wow. Goosebumps. Children are divine.

By: Chris O'Brien

Chris O'Brien — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:39:59 +0000

That is amazing...

As an aside, I do know whey we give presents. Jesus was of course not born in December, but rather several months later. Back in the day (aka, about 1,000 years ago), landowners used to give parties and gifts to the peasants after the harvest. Wild partying ensued. The church moved up Xmas to piggyback on the celebration. The two got mashed together over the years.

Same deal with Easter. Spring/pagan fertility rites + plus resurrecton = Easter Eggs.

By: slouchy

slouchy — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:21:31 +0000

Oh. That is BEAUTIFUL, what she said.

Beautiful, and true.

By: Aidan Donnelley Rowley

Aidan Donnelley Rowley — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:15:49 +0000

Wow. Love this story. Isn't it amazing that these little creatures can crack our cool facade so quickly with innocent and pointed questions. We think we know so much until we have kids to show us otherwise. I am really interested in the question of how much to teach our kids about the holidays. What is the right level of knowing? What should we tell them and what should they figure out for themselves? I don't pretend to know, but thank you for making me think about these important things. (Glad I have a little bit of time to figure this out too!)

By: Ambrosia

Ambrosia — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:39:02 +0000

The insight you and your children provided into this holiday season gave me courage to post my own thoughts.

What struck me in your post was your children's questions and answers about presents. Lindsey, I am struggling with these questions in my own life. I am wondering whether I should even do presents. Perhaps you can hop on over to my blog and provide some answers. Or maybe your children can : ).