I wasn't prepared for this!

Anna threw me a curve ball the other day. 

While at the dinner table, my child turned to me and said, in all seriousness,

"So, Mommy...what's this God all about?"

Um, what? 

"What's this God all about?"

So a little background for those of you who don't know me well. Although I was raised in the predominant religion of our state, I have not been active for a very long time, and really no longer consider myself a member. Travis and I are both what we like to call "happy agnostics". Do we believe that there may be a spiritual being? A heaven and an afterlife? Perhaps. I have seen too many things (in my many years as a nurse) that defy expectation or explanation, so I really do feel as though there is something else out there in addition to this life. My husband and I both just do not necessarily believe in organized religion. We do not go to church, and we do not pray at home, so my child asking about God came as somewhat of a shock to me. 

I asked Anna what she knew about God and where she heard about him, and, after more prodding, eventually it came out that the teachers in her preschool class lead the children in a prayer each day. A simple little non-denominational prayer before their snack time - "God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food. Amen."  

I was a little taken aback, as I had absolutely no knowledge of this for the last 2 months. She is not enrolled in a religious preschool, so I did not expect her to be praying in preschool.  I wasn't angry, but I wish they would have let us parents know so that we WOULD be more prepared to discuss this subject. 

I gently explained to Anna that some people believe that there is a God who lives in Heaven, and he watches over us and helps us to make good choices in our lives. I explained that there is some people that don't believe that there is a God, and that is okay too. I want her to respect the beliefs and choices of everyone, and to be able to choose what she believes as she matures in this life. 

She seemed somewhat satisfied with that answer, but she kept asking "But what's this God all about?" She said that particular phrase about 4 times.

I reiterated that if you believe in God, he is someone that helps us to be kind, gracious, and helpful to others. Someone we can't see with our eyes, but sometimes can feel with our hearts. He helps us to be a good person and make good choices, and keeps us from being naughty and making choices that could harm us or others. 

Anna pondered that thought for a moment, and then looked at me with her inquisitive little eyes, and said,

"So...he's kinda like Santa Claus??"

I couldn't contain my laughter at that one.  

"Exactly, my love. He's kind of like Santa Claus." 

A perfect analogy for a four-year-old's mind. :-)