Last night after reading the favorite picks of both the kids with them, I pulled out our Qu'ran memorization book. We don't do this every night, but it's something that is important to me that I hope the kids will learn. We recite the verses in Arabic and then I read them the translation so they can learn them. My son used to love doing this but lately he has not been as interested.
He said, Why should I care about God?
I said, "God loves you and takes care of you."
God doesn't take care of me.
Who takes care of you?
Mommy.
I said, "Well who takes care of mommy?"
Mommy.
I didn't push the issue with him, but I went to bed feeling very sad. I felt like between his Episcopalian school, our UCC church and my Muslim beliefs and activities that I had God covered. But perhaps my own disbelief in God's ability to take care of me has rubbed off on my son.
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Your cutie is at the age where he is making up his own mind about stuff. R told me a couple of days ago, "You know I don't believe all the same things you do, right?" I told him that was okay, just as long as we always talk about it.
ReplyDeleteAt a certain point, I felt like I'd taken on the role of God in the lives of my children. I depended on God. They depended on me. I stepped back now and hope they find something bigger than me to lean on. Great post.
ReplyDeleteMm...I think he needs to sort it out for himself. And it will change throughout his life, what he believes about God.
ReplyDeleteUnlike adults, children are concrete thinkers. They report only what they see.
ReplyDeleteHe will eventually come to have his own spirituality. I did not develop mine until I came to Al-Anon.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous - Children are concrete thinkers until the age of seven. At or around 7 their brains are developed to the point that they understand abstract concepts, like God.
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