"Mommy have I been good enough to go to heaven?"
Mon Mar 28, 2005 18:09
64.140.158.43
http://www.newkerala.com/afp/050328170527.e4ittppl.php
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: Undisclosed recipients
Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2005 2:26 AM
Subject: Happy Easter
Dear Family and Friends,
I wanted to extend best wishes to you all for a blessed Easter. May you be surrounded by those you love, and in touch with those who are far away. Each holiday we spend with our children brings about a new enlightenment for that day. We are older now, the glee of a holiday sometimes looses it's luster but it never loses it's real meaning. Through our children we get to see the day through their precious eye's.
As I tucked my children in tonight we discussed the true meaning of Easter again. They listened with eager, wide eye'd attention and many questions followed. They were excited about the day to come and yet I could tell that by sharing the story again of the real meaning of Easter the eldest was finally getting it. Our daughter asked many questions about why Christ died for us, what is a sin, and how do people know they will get to go to heaven? I explained to her to the best of my ability in a reference that a child could understand. I told her about the Ten Commandments again and she thought it was silly for people not to know to not do those things. She asked me if it was ok to tell a little lie if telling the truth would hurt her friends? Wow, good question. Adults everyday find themselves telling little white lies for one reason or another. I told her at that time it is better not to say anything if she felt that she would need to tell a lie. But to question if telling them the truth would be better heard coming from someone they cared about.
The best message I could share with her was that God gave us all free will. The door to heaven is not hard to reach for we only have to believe. We can chose to believe, and open our hearts to Him, or we can chose to not do so. I explained that for those who did open their heart to God and accept Christ as their Savior, a place should be open in heaven for them. She asked me, "What about good people who do not believe in God, will they go to heaven? I told her I do not know but the Bible says they will not. But who knows what happens in that persons mind as they face the end of their life. Do they repent, do they see what they have turned away from? I cannot answer what may be their secret prayer with God. Only God knows.
She then asked what if they did not believe as a kid but they changed their mind as an adult, do they still get to go to heaven? I told her it is usually the other way around but it does happen. I told her God is loving and forgiving. If they truly accepted Him He would accept them. She then asked what if they were awful and sinned their whole life, then they were good just before they died, would they get into heaven then?
Boy, all I wanted was an educational story time, a little tucking in session and nightly prayers. But on the eve of holidays there is no such thing as an easy bed time with this little one. I asked her if she believed someone could change so much after such a long life like that? She said she didn't know, I said I do not know either, and I guess that is for God to decide. I told her to concentrate on how she was living her life. God would see to the rest.
She then looked up at me with those big blue eyes and said, "Mommy have I been good enough to go to heaven?" My heart was in my throat for I could see she was very serious. I hugged her and said, "Of course you have sweet heart! You do what many need to do, you think of others before yourself. You go out of your way to help without being asked because you know someone will benefit from your sweet efforts. You treat others as you would like to be treated. You try your best to be honest and when you err you admit it and make amends for it. You believe in God and you worship Him" She then said, "You mean like you do when you try to help people from giving their kids bad shots and fluoride in their toothpaste and stuff like that?" I said, "Yes, it's like that in a way. But Mommy will not go to heaven if I do not believe in God and worship Him." She said, "So being a good person is not enough. We have to believe and say our prayers too." She then had a concerned look on her face. I told her to not fear, He knows how she lives, and He hears her prayers and sees it in her actions with others.
She then asked, "What if God didn't see everything I did?" Bless her heart. I explained again that God sees everything we do. She then had that worried look on her face again and before she could give further "confessions" I said, "And yes He still loves you for who you are and excepts you for who you are, just like Daddy and I do." I told her it is my understanding that we all sin and no one is perfect. She gave a sigh of relief. I kissed her little forehead, listened to her prayers, and told her she better get some sleep to get ready for the day ahead. She smiled her sweet smile, closed her eyes and snuggled herself in her blanket as if she was content with the conversations closure.
After prayers we lost her baby brother to dreamland. But no doubt next year he will be more a part of this discussion and start to see why we make the decisions we do in our lives to help others who need help, why God is important in our life, and why we act, when we are called to act.
I know many are tired of hearing about the Terri Schaivo's and Baby M's of the world. But I truly believe in my heart we are called to help those who cannot help themselves. As my daughter said her prayers tonight I could see that even a small child could get it. She prayed her usual prayer and then said a special one for Terri. She prayed "God please watch over Terri and keep her safe. Please don't let her be scared. Please make that Michael guy be nice and stop hurting her." That is the jest of it through a child's mind with what little she has been told of this issue. I too pray Terri will be protected by God and He will prevent Michael from hurting her further. God may call her home to do that. She may not die in peace but she will finally have peace. If a small child can get it, then so can the rest of the world if they open thier hearts to the truth.
Again, I wish you all the best of holidays and may you be with those you love. For my family who are far away just know you are in our thoughts and hearts and we will be calling you on Easter.
God Bless
Pamela
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