The Big Questions

Tonight was our weekly daddy-daughter date, while Mar stayed at APU late to teach.  On the way from Peekaboo Playland to Souplantation, I had my deepest theological conversation in quite awhile with, it so happens, a two-year-old =).  I really wish I had been able to record it.  I can't remember most of it.  Here are a few things I remember, but she asked a bunch of other super cute questions too:

Elise: Daddy, that's a cross.  When I was a baby, I was scared of the cross, but now I'm a big girl, I'm not scared anymore.

Bryant: Yes, dear, the cross was owwie for Jesus, but it's not scary for us.  It just reminds us to think about him.

Elise: Why did Jesus get a big owwie on the cross?

Bryant: Because some bad people didn't like Jesus and they made him hang on the cross, and that was very owwie.  But after Jesus got the owwie, God made him all better.  God healed him.  So now Jesus doesn't have owwie any more.  And he loves you sooo much.

Elise: We can't see Jesus, but he can see us.  And he can hear us.  He is in my heart.  God is sooo big.  ... He is too big for my heart.  He can't fit in it.

Bryant: Does Jesus love you?

Elise: Yes.  Why didn't the bad people like Jesus?

Bryant: Jesus wanted to protect us and help us and keep us safe, because he loves us.  But the bad people didn't want him to.  But he said, I want to keep Elise safe, and dada safe, and mama safe, and everybody safe.  So Jesus said, I will get a big owwie, but Elise doesn't have to get an owwie, and dada doesn't, and mama doesn't...only Jesus has to get a big owwie.  He let them give him the owwie because he loves us sooo much.  But he's okay now, because God healed him.  He likes it when you talk to him.

Elise: Jesus got a big owwie, but I only have a little owwie on my knee.  Dada, why did the bad people put Jesus on the cross?

...

Elise: Dada, why did the bad people put Jesus on the cross?

...

Elise: Dada, why did the bad people put Jesus on the cross?

...

Elise: Dada, God told me he would put a chicken in my nose.  God is so silly!  Hehehe.

Bryant: That is very true, my dear, God is really funny!

Elise: God is sooo funny to me, Dada.  Dada, why did Jesus get an owwie on the cross?

Bryant:  Elise, if you are ever scared, and you're not with Mama and Dada, Jesus loves you and wants to protect you.  You can always ask him to help you okay?

Elise: Okay, dada.  But it's better if I'm with Mama and Dada.

(a few hours later, after Mar gets home and we're all lying in bed)

Elise: Mama, why did Jesus get a big owwie on the cross?

Margaret: What?

Elise: Mama, why did Jesus go on the cross?

Margaret: Oh my goodness.  Who told you that?

Elise: Dada did.  Why did Jesus go on the cross?

...

Elise: Mama, does Jesus have a dada?  Like a God-dada, or a God-mama?

Bry:  Yes, sweetie, Jesus had a mama named Mary and a dada named Joseph, but God is his dada too.

Elise: Does Curious George have a mama, or only a dada?

Mar:  We don't know about his mama and dada, Elise.  Let's go to sleep, sweetie.

Elise: Does the pillow have a mama and dada?  Like a big pillow and a little pillow?

...

Elise:  I love you guys.  You are my favorite dada, and you are my favorite mama.


[I hadn't given much thought to how I would frame atonement theology for a two-year-old.  Hopefully I didn't do too much damage =).]