Tonight at bedtime, both Thomas and Tabitha expressed fear about dying as I was tucking them in. Although we often talk about Jesus, this evening was different because both children said specifically that they believed in Him.

My mind is not quick, nor do I boast having great theological knowledge, and I pray that God can even use such simple talk about Him to work in the hearts of my children:

Tabitha was afraid that “bad guys” were going to get her. I told her that mommy and daddy loved her and that we would do everything we could, including dying for her, to protect her from bad guys. I said, “do you know who loves you more than mommy and daddy and who did die for you?” “Jesus?” “Yes!” We talked about God making her and loving her so much that He sent His Son to die for her so that she did not have to die and go to hell because of her sin.” She wondered if Jesus “got blood” when he died for her. So, we talked about how he died on the cross, and that it entailed nails being driven into his hands and his feet (not mentioned – I didn’t want to keep her up all night thinking about blood… the amount of blood is beside the point… but he was beaten, a crown of thorns shoved on his head, etc.) – yes, Tabitha, He did bleed. He was God, but he was also a man. Daddy is a man. Daddy bleeds when he gets a cut. We talked about what sin was – like lying, because God said that it was “naughty” to lie. God cannot tolerate sin, and He cannot be with us because we are sinners. But Jesus, who never sinned, loves us and died for us to pay for our sins so that we can be called God’s children. God wants us to believe that Jesus died for us so that we did not have to die because of our sin, and we can be happy because Jesus became alive again, and He is still alive. “Mom, I believe in Jesus!” “You do? Why do you believe in Jesus?” “Because He loves me!” What a sweet kiss goodnight.

When I went into Thomas’ room to tuck him in, he was still awake (it was midnight). He wondered why people have to die and when he was going to die. I told that it is okay to wonder about dying, but that we do not have to be afraid of dying. “People have to die because a long time ago, God made the first man in the world and what was his name?” “ADAM!” “Yes! Good, Thomas!” And God told Adam.. “DO NOT EAT THE FRUIT”, said Thomas. “Right!” But did Adam obey God?” “NO!” So, God had to send Adam and Eve out of the Garden and Adam and Eve knew that what they did was sinful. And Adam had children, and Adam’s children’s children had children until one day Mommy and Daddy were born, and we had you. And because Adam sinned, all of Adam’s children were also sinful in God’s eyes. But, God did not want us to be separated from Him. So, do you know what he did? “What????” (Thomas is like, hanging on to my every word.. scary!) “He sent Jesus to the earth and his mommy on the earth’s name was Mary.” “Did God make Jesus in Mary’s tummy?” “Yes!” “Did God make me in your tummy?” “Yes!” “Is God going to make more babies in your tummy?” “Well, Thomas, that is something that we can pray about – that is up to God…. anyways…..” Jesus grew up and became a man – like, Daddy is a man. “Did Jesus have a beard like daddy?” “Probably, but we do not know what Jesus looked like except that He looked like a regular man.” “And through his whole life, from when He was born to when he became a man, he never ever sinned.” “Even though Jesus never ever sinned, he died on the cross. The cross was a place where bad guys died when they got into trouble for their sin. There were two people that died next to Jesus and they were “thieves”. “What is “thieves?”” “A thief is someone who sinned by stealing something -taking something- that did not belong to them. And they were punished for stealing by being put to death.” (Almost crying in his voice) “But, mom, Jesus NEVER EVER sinned! So why did he have to DIE?” Because He never EVER sinned, and he did not deserve to die, he was a perfect sacrifice for our sin. You’re right – he didn’t deserve to die at all! But, he obeyed God and he died for your sin even though it wasn’t his fault.” “Like when I sin? He died for that?” “Yes.” “Did Jesus know about all my sins? Like when I hurt Aiden?” “Yes”, but we don’t have to be afraid about dying for our sin, when we believe that Jesus died for our sin and that his blood paid for our sin.” “I believe in Jesus, Mom!!” (twice in one night?!?!) “You do? Why do you believe in Jesus, Thomas?” “Because he died for me!” “Thats right! And because Jesus died for you, we do not have to be afraid about dying because when we die, we will go to heaven and be with God, who made us. We can meet Jesus someday, too, in heaven!” “Does DAD know EVERYTHING about Jesus?” “NO, but he knows a lot about Jesus. We can read what God wants us to know about Jesus in the Bible.” “Can we read the Bible right NOW?” “Um, no, it’s 12:30 in the morning, but we can read about Jesus tomorrow.”