Even When We Don't Tell Them, They Know...

We were careful not to discuss or let the kids see the events of Friday.  Chris met us and some friends for pizza and then we headed to family movie night at Aubrey Kate's school.  While the kids laid on their mats, ate popcorn, giggled and watched "Inside Out," Chris and I had a quick hushed conversation...

Chris:  Did you hear about Paris?

Me:  Yep.

And then we both dove into our phones reading the news and stories of the day.

Both of us spend our days mostly isolated from breaking news.  Chris inside his school.  And me wrapped up in little people.

After the movie, we loaded up two very tired miracles and drove home.  

We didn't say much.  There wasn't much to say.  We just sat in front of the TV and watched.  

The next morning, I got to check the news briefly before they woke up but quickly turned it off when Rhys came stumbling out of his room rubbing his eyes and holding "Froggy." 

Sweet baby.

The morning was spent eating breakfast, starting loads of laundry and getting dressed to go to the gym.  I had every intention of watching football while I was on the treadmill and do my best to just think about football.

It's easy.  

But the car ride.  

As always, the kids asked to listen to our church's worship CD.  Although, we barely got out of the neighborhood before we turned it off to talk.  

Rhys was full of questions.  Randomness, really, is how it felt.  He started off by asking about the Garden of Eden.  Which came out of nowhere.  We haven't even been reading those stories recently.

Rhys:  Momma, why did they eat the fruit God said no to?

Me:  Adam and Eve, baby?

Rhys:  Yeah.  Why did they eat the fruit God said no to?

AK:  Because they wanted more than the good things God had already given them.

Me:  ....

Rhys:  There was other fruit they could eat!

AK:  Yeah, and the garden was perfect.  God was there with them and they had everything they needed.  But they wanted more.

Me:  ...

This conversation went on for a little while.  Rhys asking about details and Aubrey Kate accurately providing them.  With such insight and depth, I added NOT ONE WORD.  

Then the questions from Rhys changed to monsters and bad guys.

In our house, we know Jesus has already defeated the monsters.  They're gone.  And by "monsters," we mean the ones hiding under your bed or in your closet or on shows (think Ursala in "The Little Mermaid.").  But...BUT...there are bad guys in the world.  

Rhys wanted to know who will kill the bad guys.  He said "kill" although we don't typically discuss killing.  Other than what happens in the bible.  

Rhys:  The soldiers will kill the bad guys!

AK:  Yeah!  Like Deborah!  She led God's army!

(Now, at that moment, I'm pretty sure I sinned and had a moment of pride.  Solider = Deborah?  That's just pure awesomeness right there.)

The conversation from there went on to discuss satan and how he lies.  

I said "God's word tells us..." approximately 9 million times.  

We had the same kinds of discussions all day long.  Rhys asked the same questions about the fruit and soldiers and Aubrey Kate kept giving her wonderful answers.  I supported those answers and answered what she couldn't (because we haven't quite gotten to every detail in the bible).

That night, Chris got to hear a good deal too.  After they had gone to bed, we sat on the couch discussing it.  My assessment...this was a day of some serious spiritual warfare.

Chris said, apparently.

Today, I sat with a dear friend in our baptism class.  She's getting baptized next week.  I was telling her the stories and she said, "They get it.  We don't realize what they're getting but they ARE getting it."  

How true that is.  

While we were busy having brief, hushed conversations, reading our news stories in the dark, switching channels quickly, they were surrounded by the events just as much as we were.

Only they had no real idea what was happening, I truly believe they felt the turmoil.  The war.  The sadness.

In the midst of all that, they unknowingly clung to God's word, His people and His hope.  

Turmoil and war comes from wanting more than what God has already given us.  Just as it did for Adam and Eve.  Bombs exploded and guns were fired Friday because people are seeking more.  More power, more control, more territory, more fear.  

Our Father is different.  He offers a life free from fear.  For we have been given a spirit of power.  And access to a perfect love that casts out all that fear.  He offers us grace and mercy and redemption.  A second chance to walk with Him in the garden.  

So I find myself being overwhelmingly grateful.  Not for the events, of course.  Those, like the ones that have been occurring in countries for years at the hands of these bad guys, break my heart.  They leave me yearning ever more so for Jesus' arrival.  But I am grateful for such a precious reminder from my children on who is eternally in control.  Who has the power.  Who owns all the territories and Who drives out fear.

Lord, come quickly.