Mercy: Kind of like a penguin
May 30th, 2007Last night Daniel and I were reciting Psalm 23 together (he can recite the whole thing). After we finished, he asked, “What’s mercy?” Thrilled at his interest and curiosity, I proceeded to explain to him the meaning of the word.
A few minutes later, this is the conversation that ensued:
Daniel: Mercy is kind of like a penguin.
Me: What do you mean?
Daniel: Like a polar bear, and there are little penguins, and they jump high into the air and down into the water.
Me: Um, OK, but what does that have to do with mercy?
Daniel: It’s kind of like a big bear, but not really, and there are penguins.
Ah, the joys of a theological discussion with a 3-year-old.
And pick up on. One Sunday Valerie asked me what I was going to preach on. Joking I said, “Wives submit to your husbands.” She told me later my 2 1/2 year old told her, “We have to go to church, Daddy preach ‘Wives submit.’”
That sounds like the kind of conversations my wife gets into when teaching the children’s class at church. An example: My wife is teaching on Lazarus and the rich man and during the middle of her story, a young boy raises his hand. She calls on him. He states: “My daddy took me fishing” and while making a reeling motion, he explained, “this is how you catch fish when the bobber goes down.” She thanked him for that lesson in fishing and moved on to finish her lesson on that passage in Luke.
j razz
I see a book in here…
Anyway, my favorite from my son is when we asked him what he thinks Jesus will say when he comes back.
He said in a mighty voice, Jesus will say, “Surprise!! I’m here!!”
Classic.
That is great, Tim.
Sadly, this is actually deeper than some theological discussions I have had with some grown-ups. At least “mercy” brought to mind a happy image for him.