"Mama, What does miserable mean?"

  The conversations that Tim and I have the privilege of having with our children are priceless. I should recount them more often and will try to do a better job of sharing some of them.

   Today Hannah, Lauren, and I were sitting at our kitchen table eating lunch as we do almost everyday.  Usually after one of the girls prays for "this good family, this good food, and for Papa to come home safe" we start praising the Lord. Sometimes we praise the Lord for "a warm house, good food to eat, a little brother" and sometimes we praise Him that He is "wonderful, almighty, amazing" and things like that.  It is a fun time to just praise the Lord together.  

   After praising the Lord together today, Hannah looked at me and asked, "Mama, What does miserable mean?"  I said, "Well, it means really bad."  I said, "If I am having a miserable day, then I am having a really bad day, or if I feel miserable, then I am feeling really bad."

Without skipping a beat she asked, "Do you feel miserable when you have a baby?" (she was referring to child birth).  I was surprised by her question because I did not know she knew at this point that there was pain associated with child birth.  I responded, "Yes, I do feel miserable" (thinking of having Timmy, an 8.5 lb. baby, by way of natural birth with no numbing medication - not my choice)  :)  She asked, "Why do you feel miserable?"  "Because it hurts," I answered. Again, "Why?" she asked.

   Ah ha.  This is where we have the choice to give one of two answers - the physical answer (which she is really not interested in at this point, thankfully... because I'm not sure how great of a job I would do explaining this to a 4-year old)  or the spiritual answer.  I opted for option #2 - the spiritual answer.  :)

   So, in answer to her question about why I feel miserable when I have a baby and why it hurts, I answered.... "Hannah, do you remember what Mama told you yesterday after you had disobeyed?  I told you that you can choose your sin but not your consequence."  She remembered that from yesterday.  You see, she had chosen to disobey and have a bad attitude (that was her choice), but then Tim and I chose her consequence (how she would be disciplined).  So, this explanation of sin and consequences was fresh in her little mind.

Then, I took her back to the story of Adam and Eve.  She reminded me of what they did and how they disobeyed God. You probably see where I am going with this.... sin... consequences...

I said, "Hannah, Eve chose to sin by disobeying God, but God got to choose her consequence.  One of her consequences was that every time she had a baby it would hurt really bad."  Hannah looked at me surprised.  I went on to explain, "And guess what?  Part of the consequence of Eve's sin was that it would hurt every lady that ever had a baby forever and ever."  Her mouth dropped open.  She was shocked.  "Why?" she asked.  I said, "God gets to choose our consequences... our punishment."  "So, that is the reason it hurts when Mama has a baby and that is why I feel miserable.  It is because of Eve's sin."  She understood this in relation to her sin and consequences yesterday afternoon.  She was not confused and accepted very well that God is in control and we are accountable to Him for everything.  I think she is beginning to grasp how our sin doesn't just affect us... it also affects those around us.

It is so beautiful to have these kinds of conversations with our kids. They truly are little sponges, and I pray that we are molding and shaping their hearts into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.