Did Jesus Poop?

"Mom. Did Jesus poop?"
(Wow. That's actually a really easy one.)
"Yes.  God created Jesus as a human. All humans have to eat. So, all humans have to poop."
(Simple biology.)
"OK. Well, did Jesus' poop stink?"
(This kid has REALLY thought this through)
"Yes. Poop stinks. That's a normal part of poop. That's how the body works."
(again...easy)
"OK. Well, did Jesus fart?"
(guess the gender of the kid asking these questions)
"Yes. Jesus farted. Again, part of biology. Farting is a necessity."

A little part of me cringed mixing "Jesus" and "poop" in the same sentence. To me, Jesus is HOLY. He's to be revered. He was the ultimate sacrifice and the very best promise. If my kids learn nothing else, I want them to GET that. To KNOW that. With every cell of their being. (even the bowels) I pray every night for these kids. They may lose me, they may lose their Daddy, they may lose friends and love and jobs...but they will NEVER lose the love of Jesus. I SO want them to know they can lean on Him. At every turn. During the mountains of life AND during the valleys. I want them to revere Him.
So, when these questions came up I was forced to ask myself if I'm showing them that. Are they GETTING it? Jesus and poop? Jesus and farts?
Here's what I've come up with: Yes. Jesus and farts. It's ok. He's on their minds. He was on the mind of my 8yr old when these questions came up. My kid is SEEKING to know more. Even if it's just biology. He wants to KNOW about Jesus. He's sorting through the "stuff" as only an 8yr old boy can do. The seed is planted and the first bit of growth is showing.
So, here's what I've come up with. ASK AWAY, kid. Let's talk about Jesus. Let's talk about His shoes and His hair and whether He played baseball or whether He climbed all over everything or whether He really wants the Rangers to win the World Series this time. Let's talk about it. I still have a lot of questions myself. Maybe not about poop or farts. But about stuff that matters to me. And at 8 years old, farts and poop seem to matter to a boy.
So kid, ASK AWAY! Because as Matthew 7:7 says...
SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND!

I Miss My Muchness

                                              
Time flies. I've heard that a million times but never understood what it really meant until I had kids. And boy-oh-boy....time really DOES fly. I've found myself weepy sometimes at how quickly things are changing. We've had lots of changes since our home burned in May. Our world was turned upside down. Waiting for the new house to be finished was a terrible time of "temporaryness". But it was also a lesson to me on God's grace and the resilience of my kids. When the new house was finished, Ben and I decided that I would quit my job and stay home to concentrate on recreating a sense of normalcy for the kids. But I also feel like I have a lot of work to do on myself. Being strong through the fire gave me a glimpse of toughness that I forgot I had. It gave me a glimpse of the faith that I used to have. I have always been a "what's next" kind of girl. Always restless. Always discontent. Never fully comfortable in my own skin. Do you remember in the new Alice in Wonderland movie where Johnny Depp tells Alice that she's lost her "muchness"? "You used to be much more muchier," he tells her. I did, too. I used to be MUCH more MUCHIER. Well, it is time to get my muchness back. And I think that starts with exercise. UGH!....seriously? Unfortunately, yes.  It's time. God is calling me to be so much more muchier. He's calling me to WAKE UP from this stall. That's what it feels like...a stall. A slump. I've felt defeated for a long time. Definitely not in my marriage, but with myself. I've felt weak. My friend Monica and I decided to start going to the gym. We decided to be accountable for each other. I went for the first time 2 weeks ago and guess what.........I DIDN'T DIE. It did not kill me. (it almost did.....we did a spin class) It kicked my big butt but I was so proud of myself. I actually did it. I did NOT die like I thought I would. WHO KNEW?? (my husband says HE knew I could do it) So I've been every day this week. Every time I have wanted to cry right there in the middle of the class. Every. Single. Time. Not because it was too hard. But because I was so damn mad at myself for not doing this earlier. So damn mad at myself for buying the lie I've been telling myself......that I CAN'T do it. So damn mad at myself for letting this extra weight define WHO I am. If going to the gym is going to make me stronger...the thing I'm going to fight for FIRST is my muchness.