Call It What It Is

Name Calling.

Apparently this is the new phase my children are in. I'm hoping it's a quick one. I'm exhausted. Currently the meanest and most hurtful thing they've been calling each other is "foolish" or a "fool".  While I'm really thankful this is G-rated, we've had some conversations defining the above terms and when they are and aren't appropriate.

Yesterday Son 1 wanted to really stick it to Son 2. Want to know his name of choice?

 "You SINNER!"  (Feel free to laugh..... I've chuckled about it for two days: such truth and innocence with a dose of hurtful intentions.)

Well, Son 2 quickly  made sure mommy knew his brother was calling him names, he didn't like it, and it hurt his feelings.

Oh, sweet boy, even at 5 the truth hurts and we don't like to face "the dirt in our hearts". How often do we have a hard time hearing our sin spoke aloud?

This actually laid the groundwork for an extensive theological discussion: well, as extensive as it can be with a 3 year old and two 5 year olds. Yes, my son, you are a sinner. But so are mommy, daddy, and your sister and brother. We ALL are. Every single human being. But, there's good news!

I often feel I blunder my way through explaining spiritual concepts to my children. I always think of the perfect words three days later. But this time I thought, "this is going pretty well". I was quickly humbled, as you'll see below.  At some point in the conversation we talked about Jesus taking away those sins by his work on the cross.

After this entire conversation, Son 2 said, "mommy, where did he put them?"
"Where did he put what?"
"The sins. He took them away, where did he put them?"
"Well, they're gone. It's like he threw them in the deepest ocean never to be seen again. It's like he threw them to the ground and stomped the smithereens out of them."
"Oh, ok. I didn't want him to call me a sinner. I want a snack."

Out of the mouth of babes.

Reflection:

1. Is it hard for you to accept that we are ALL sinners? It's ugly, it's hard. I know. Our hearts are dirty. A journey through Romans helps put our position before God into perspective and the hope we find in Christ.

2. Do you beat yourself up over past sins for which you've already sought forgiveness? Do you have a hard time accepting that our loving Heavenly Father has thrown them into the deepest depths never to be dredged up by him again? If so, Why? They were "stomped to smithereens" at the foot of the cross. They were crushed beneath the stone that rolled away.