Forever Young

 Can we just not let them grow-up for a little bit longer?  I know that eventually, our kids are going to be introduced to all of the sin our temporary world has to offer, but can we wait?  Can we just let them be little?  Let them be innocent?  

"Mom, did you know God has the whole world in his hands?" asked our middle child.

"Yes!" I replied.

"So we're stepping on Him right now?"

Hmmm, I think I need to explain that better.

"Mom?" The same child asked a little later, "Is the girl elf with Santa really the Easter Bunny?"

"Um, nope.  That's a...that's a really interesting question."

"How does he get his reindeer to fly?"

"Magic."

"Where does his magic come from?"

These questions are getting hard.  

"Look!  I think I see a deer in the yard.  Do you want a snack?"

Crisis averted.  

"Mom, I can't wait for Dad to get the presents I circled for him in this catalogue," our oldest child told me in a conspiratorial whisper.  "I circled the best things for him."

I don't think he understands that circling and buying are two different things.  Maybe Santa is supposed to come through on the circles???  We are going to ride this one out for awhile because circling has been magical, and it has bought me lots of time.  

"Can the people inside the TV see out?"

"No."

"How do they get in there?"

"It's complicated."

"But are they real?"

"They are real people, but they are just acting."

"So are they dead?"

"No."

"So they aren't real people?"

"They are...it's complicated."

I love seeing how their minds work related to things I often take for granted.  Their curiosity and wonder keeps me on my toes, but also helps me see things in a fresh light.  I want to keep them innocent for themselves, but selfishly also for me.  Just a little longer.    

Let them be little.