It was one of those endless road trips to visit Grandma and Grandpa. You know the type: a five-hour trek filled with bathroom breaks, a “Mom, I think I need to go!” moment, a much-needed coffee stop for me, and of course, the obligatory Happy Meal detour. When I say it felt long, I truly mean it.
My 8-year-old son, Max, has a knack for getting deep and philosophical during these journeys. He loves to ask me questions on topics that leave me feeling a bit lost, and on this particular day, our conversation took a religious turn.
Religion has always been a tricky subject for me. While I consider myself spiritual, I don’t identify as religious. So, when Max started asking about God, I was at a loss. “Mom, was God ever human? Was He here, or over there?” he questioned, pointing out to the fields. “How did He die? Where did He go? Was He always invisible, or is He just invisible now?”
Oh great, I thought. This is one of those pivotal moments in his childhood where he’ll remember exactly what I say and might someday bring it up in therapy, describing my knowledge as “lacking in key areas like religion and politics.”
“Well,” I started, “that’s a tough one. I think Jesus was human… or was He? I can pull over and Google this if you want. Is this really important to you? You look confused. Am I confusing you? Oh gosh, I hope I didn’t offend you!”
Right in the middle of this chaos, my toddler piped up, announcing his urgent need to use the restroom. So, there I was, standing awkwardly in a Porta Potty next to a California gas station, trying to help my little one focus while I desperately tried to figure out how to handle Max’s questions.
How was I going to navigate this? I was contemplating confessing that I didn’t grow up in a religious environment and had little understanding of these topics. I didn’t want to dismiss Max’s curiosity, and the pressure was mounting.
After my toddler finished his business, I took him back to the car. As soon as I opened the door, Max looked at me and said, “Mom, can you just buy me that thing you were talking about? The Bible?”
Oh wow, I had completely forgotten that I mentioned the Bible in our earlier conversation! “Absolutely!” I exclaimed. “What a wonderful idea! I’ll get you one!”
“Like, today?” he pressed.
“Well, maybe not today, but definitely soon—like, in two days?” I replied.
“Oh, you’re going to order it from Amazon, aren’t you?” he said with a grin.
Max knows me too well. Once we returned home from visiting the grandparents, I immediately ordered a children’s Bible. As we browsed the options together, I felt just as excited as he was. We found one with great reviews and beautiful illustrations that captivated him.
In that moment, I realized something profound: I had always wished someone could have answered my questions about God and life when I was a child. I longed for someone to explain things to me, to nurture my curiosity instead of dismissing it.
This desire fueled my eagerness to get that Bible into Max’s hands. This wasn’t the first time he had inquired about God, and I began to see how this could open up new paths for him. Perhaps he would want to teach me about the stories, explore church, or even consider becoming a pastor.
Though I’m not religious, I certainly don’t want to stifle Max’s exploration of spirituality and faith. I want to support him in discovering who he is and what he believes. It’s essential to me that he feels free to explore his interests and make his own choices regarding faith and spirituality.
I cherish my children’s curiosity and their thirst for knowledge. I’ll always be there to listen to their questions, no matter how small they seem, because those questions can lead to big changes.
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In summary, even though I don’t identify as religious, I embraced the opportunity to support my son’s spiritual exploration by buying him a Bible. This experience opened my eyes to the importance of nurturing curiosity and encouraging children to ask questions about faith and life.