The following collection of child-like reflections I collected when our children were young.  In each, we find  wonder and wisdom, perspective and hope, gentle humor and great love. 

“Mom, God is big. 

God is bigger than the whole world… 

God is the size of love.”

Julianne, age 4

“Mom, I love you so much. I will always love you, 

even if you are in heaven and I’m still here. 

But if I die first, then I’ll love you from heaven.” 

“Don’t worry Mom. When I get to heaven, 

I will pray to God and ask him to send an ‘I love you’ from me to you. 

Every day. So you won’t miss me so much.”

“See, I have a tear too. It’s right here.” 

(Points to a tiny tear slowly working its way down his cheek.) 

“I think tears are prayers. 

Trying to find their way down to your heart. 

Where your love is.”

Nate, age 6

“When you hug me tight, I feel blessed by God.”

Claira, age 6  

“Mom, sometimes a person just needs a little peace of quiet.”

Claira, age 5

After looking at reproductions of Vincent Van Gough’s paintings:

“My heart feels broken with joy 

when I look at these pictures.”

“Thank you God, for Mr. Van Gough. 

Please bring his pictures into my heart 

and help me to dream about them.”

Claira, age 5

“Mom, every time I look at you 

I see the childhood in your face.”

Claira, age 6

“Ah Mom! For the love of peace!!”

Claira, age 5

Pointing to her heart:

“I have lots of love and lots of God in here—

and I can hear Him singing.”

Julianne, age 4

Describing a dream just after waking up:

“Mom, I heard a tiger roar. And I heard God talking. 

He said he’ll always take care of me.”

Claira, age 3 ½

“I let my love go up to the sky to visit God and then it comes back to me” 

Julianne, age 4

"I’ll always love imagination. I love to imagine everything: 

I can close my eyes and imagine everything-

like people dancing, a train:

When you have imagination,

You have a whole new world in your head." 

Claira, age 5

“Julianne, it’s really true! 

If you love someone and you die, you come back to life.”

Nate, age 4

“We love the bad guys but we do not love their badness.”

Julianne, age 4

“We have to pray—for the bad guys to turn into good guys.”

Julianne, age 4

“Did God make God?”

Jack, age 4

“Mom, I wonder what it feels like in someone else’s life? 

I really want to know! 

What is your life like? 

Can you tell me? 

No one can forget their life. 

I won’t forget mine: 

I have a really good memory.”

Jack

During above philosophical conversation, 

Nate, Julianne’s twin walks in:

“Nate, I wonder, what your life is?

Julianne, age 5

“My life is candy!”

Nate, age 5

Tenderly holding a wriggling worm in his small hand:

“It’s so nice to have a real animal for a pet!! Finally!!”

Jack, age 3

“My heart is broken.”

“My heart is broken because Jesus fell into love in there.”

Claira, age 4

Claira: “I have Jesus in my heart.”

Uncle Pat: “That’s neat honey!”

Claira: “Would you like to listen?”

Claira, age 4

Addressed to her favorite doll:

“I’m brave. You’re brave.

It’s kind of chilly to be brave!”

Claira, age 3 ½

Claira, loudly: “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”

Mom: “NO honey. Don’t make fun. That person was speaking German. 

Just like our Tia Maria speaks Spanish and you speak …”

(interrupted while getting ready to say “English”)

“I speak the truth!”

Claira, Age 3 ½ 

“Mom, how do people die?"

Me: "What do you mean honey?”

“I mean, how do they get invisible

before they  float up to God?”

Jack , age 4

Mom, when you die you’ll become a little girl again 

and I’ll be your Mom. 

I’ll take care of you.”

Julianne, age 4

“Mom, I think heaven is much more 

beautiful than we can imagine.”

Julianne, age 4

“When I go to heaven, I’m going to hug God every day!”

Julianne, age 4

“In heaven there are beds for bouncing on there.”

Julianne, age 5

“When we go to heaven, we get to be babies again.” 

Julianne, age 4