Keep your kids...

If you are like me (and I hope you are not,) you sometimes wonder why you have kids. They are quite expensive and do not always sleep through the night. (I know what you are saying to yourself, "Yeah, Shawn, but when they are learning to speak, you can trick them into saying dirty words." You make a great point, and we completely agree.) Anyway, it is a scientific fact that they need to eat almost every day and frequently ask for stuff for Christmas.

Last night, Ethan reminded the whole family that he saw a TV person get shot while staying up late with Daddy. My recollection of the subject was intentionally vague so as to avoid potential other discussions with my life partner (as she will soon be referred to in the new Obama administration.) It was a fun time for everyone involved minus me. To make matters worse, Mia promptly told everyone that I DID know the show to which Ethan was referring but was only acting like I DID NOT so Mommy would not get angry. She was mostly right and completely grounded.

Ethan had a tough start to the day today. He woke up WAY too early (see argument against children mentioned above) and was grumpy. He did a great job of turning his grumpiness into a happy heart (as Mommy says) but only after we had a long discussion in his room complete with tickling. At one point, he told me, "I know I have to obey you, but I don't want to." Amen, bro...

I am reading a great Tim Keller book called "The Reason for God". Keller is so much smarter and genius-er than the rest of us that I will never really understand what he is writing. But, it is an amazingly simple breakdown of reasons for faith in God. It reminds me that I must constantly force myself to look at the world from God's perspective. It is easy to see everything through the lens of my day, past events, experiences, etc. I believe that God exists and is involved in my day. He has His reasons for everything and they often do not make sense to me. Frankly, if God made complete sense to me then we would all be screwed.... (don't let your kids read that last sentence.)

My children are the best examples in my life of God's view of me. We sustain their lives in every way, fund their existence, provide protection, feed and nurture and guide their growth. Because they have never known a different experience, they expect all of those things as a starting point. It has yet to occur to them that, if all of those things ended right now, the additional Wii game or new markers would be irrelevant.

Does God chuckle when he sustains me in every way, and I complain because I have a long day? (Uhm, well Shawn, I did keep the laws of nature in force for one more full day so you would not fry by cosmic radiation. Sorry that you had to make a tough phone call.) Since God created humor, I am sure he gets it too....