Being Knowledgable in What Counts February 26, 2007
Posted by Erin in : General Lessons , trackbackJoe,
This parenting blog has really stimulated by thinking throughout the day to look at situations in a whole new way! I have been blessed by finding circumstances as more of a learning experience, rather than just a situation to get through and so I can move on to the next thing.
While you were away on your trip, Abby and I were having lunch together one day. We had some hymns playing on the computer. Abby is a true two-year old in the sense that it seems like everything is a question! One thing she likes to question is the title of songs. Pretty much anytime a new song starts she will say “What’s this song called, Mommy?” Most of the time I can give her the title of the song. But on that particular day, a song came on that I did not know the title to. So I said “I am not sure what this song is called, Ab.” She looked at me and asked again what it was called. After I told her again that I wasn’t sure, she still asked me a few more times.
In Abby’s world, I am all knowing! She was very confused that I did not know the answer to one of her questions. This got me thinking about two things. The first was simply that we are to have a view of God that is as big as Abby’s view of her Mommy. How often we grumble and complain thinking that God does not know everything and is making some sort of mistake in the ordering of our lives!
The second thing that hit me related more to parenting. I realized that as she grows older the questions are going to get harder and harder. It is going to move from “What is this song called?” to “What does ‘justification’ mean?” or “How can God be three person and yet One God?” As I thought about this I realized the great need for me to be a theologian. I know you have told me this many times before, but it was at this point I really realized the great importance for me to have the answers. I do not want to have to say to her every time a theological question is brought up “Let’s wait and ask Daddy.” I want to have the answer for her.
This is not to say that I need to have the answer to every question. It will teach her humility and hunger for the truth if I tell her I do not know, but seek out to find the answer and get back to her with a response. This is also not to say that my main reason for being a theologian is so I can simply have the right answers to give her. But it is important that I have the answers when she asks to be able to teach and instruct her as we go about our days.
I am thankful that I have been encouraged in this and have been pointed to meditate on deep truths and to read wise discussions on them. But I know I still have a long way to go and pray I would continue to strive to learn good theology so that it would conform my life and I would be able to share those truths with our children as well.
Seeking to be a theologian with you,
Erin
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