It was one of those extended road trips to visit relatives—five hours filled with restroom breaks, a sudden “I need to go, Mom!” announcement, a caffeine stop for me, and a detour to grab some fast food. When I say it felt like an eternity, I truly mean it.
My 8-year-old son, Noah, often engages me in deep discussions during these hours. He has a knack for probing into topics I’m not entirely confident about, often just to see me squirm. On this particular journey, he decided to dive into the subject of faith.
To say religion is a complex topic for me is an understatement. Although I consider myself spiritual, I don’t adhere to any specific religious denomination. So when Noah started asking about God, I found myself at a loss. “Mom, was God ever here on earth? Did He live in our house?” he queried, pointing to various spots around us. “How did He die? Where is He now? Is He always invisible, or just now?”
Oh great, I thought. This is one of those defining moments in his childhood where he’ll remember exactly what I say. He might bring it up in therapy one day, lamenting about his mother’s lack of knowledge in such important matters.
“Well,” I began hesitantly. “That’s a complex question. I believe Jesus was a human. Or was He? Hold on. I can stop and look it up if you’d like. Is this important to you? You seem puzzled. Am I confusing you? Oh dear… I hope I didn’t upset you.”
Just as I was grappling with my thoughts, my toddler piped up, announcing his urgent need to use the restroom. While standing in the cramped stall of a gas station, I had a moment of clarity. How was I going to navigate this conversation? I knew I had to admit that I didn’t grow up in a religious environment. My childhood didn’t involve church; instead, I was often distracted by thoughts of food afterward. No one in my immediate family practiced any form of faith. I didn’t want to belittle Noah’s curiosity, so I was feeling quite overwhelmed.
Once my youngest was taken care of, I headed back to the car, and as I opened the door, Noah blurted out, “Mom, can you just buy me that Bible you mentioned?”
Oh wow, I had completely forgotten I’d even brought it up during our earlier discussion about God. How clever he was for remembering!
“Absolutely!” I exclaimed. “What a wonderful idea! I’ll definitely get you a Bible!”
“Like, today. I want it today,” he insisted.
“Well, I can’t get it for you today, but I can order one soon—like in two days,” I replied.
“Oh, you’re going to order it from Amazon, aren’t you?” he said knowingly.
My son knows me too well. Once we returned from our trip, I promptly ordered a children’s Bible. I was just as excited as he was as we browsed through the options together. We found one with excellent reviews and looked at the illustrations and story titles. It struck me then: I had always wished my family had been able to answer my own questions about God and life when I was young. I longed for someone to help satisfy my curiosity, rather than dismiss it or brush it aside.
This realization fueled my eagerness to get that Bible into Noah’s hands. His questions about God weren’t a coincidence; they were genuine inquiries. Maybe he would want to learn more, attend church, or even give back to the community. Just because I don’t practice a religion doesn’t mean I want to prevent my children from exploring their spirituality. I want them to discover their true selves, and if that involves nurturing their curiosity, then I am all in!
I cherish my children’s inquisitiveness and their thirst for knowledge. I will always be there to listen to their questions, no matter how small they may seem, because they often lead to profound changes in their lives.
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Summary:
In this reflective piece, Dr. Jamie Thompson narrates a humorous yet insightful journey of discussing spirituality with her son during a road trip. Despite not being religious herself, she embraces her child’s curiosity about God and decides to buy him a Bible, hoping to nurture his exploration of faith. The article emphasizes the importance of encouraging children’s questions and supporting their spiritual journeys.