Date: 18 January 2009 21:01:08
Elder Son has been in the 'why?' phase of his life for well over six months now. I could cope with the constant 'why this...?' and 'why that...?' when it was about trivial stuff. Like rain. And dog poo on pavements. But recently the questions have got harder.
Visiting a new church this morning while staying at my sister's, Elder Son noticed the cross on the wall. He's never asked about the one in our church. But this morning, just as the pastor was opening in prayer, he became obsessed. And I found myself trying to explain, in hushed whispers, Christ's death and resurrection to a three-year-old. The problem with the 'why?' phase is that one 'why?' is never enough.
But then explaining the cross is hardly going to be a one sentance answer. Even if you aren't three.
'After why did Jesus die?' and 'Why did he come alive again', the inevitable 'Why didn't Mitsy come alive?' followed. Mitsy was our cat (featured in long ago posts). She was elderly (about 16) and had health problems. Christmas Day she sprained her leg and couldn't walk (we thought it was broken, but a very expensive emergency trip to the vet that afternoon proved otherwise). She was in pain (despite prescribed painkillers) and never really recovered. Last Tuesday Elder Son and I took her vet again, and in the end had to say goodbye. We are all very sad. Elder son is grieving in his own way and any topic of conversation vaguely relating to death tends to end with 'why... Mitsy?'.
This morning I did pretty well. Something along the lines of: 'Jesus is God, Mitsy was our cat, and cat's don't come alive again'. And he was satisfied with that answer.
And I guess I'm becoming better equipped to deal with the difficult questions. At least a little more equipped than when Elder Son asked 'What happens when people get old, do we kill them too?' the day after I'd signed the form to allow the vet to put the poor cat down.
What I want to know is WHY I get the extra hard questions while my dear husband has to answer only slightly hard ones? (questions I'll tell you about later!)