Heaven and hell

4yo: Mummy, when you die do you want to go to heaven or hell?

Me: Heaven

4yo: Why don't you want to go to hell?

Me: Because God isn't there in hell.

4yo: But how is that possible because God is everywhere!?

More on God

Nidhi: Mummy, WHY did God want Jesus to die?

Me: As a punishment for all our sins

Nidhi: But then, why do you still give me time out?

***

Nidhi: Mummy, there are so many people in the world. Is there a God for everybody?

Mummy: God is very big, he can look after everybody in the world.

***

Nidhi: Daddy, can God do anything?

Daddy: Yes

Nidhi: Then can he make other Gods? Then there will be enough Gods to look after everybody in the world.

About God

Nidhi one day: When God was a little child did he go to school?

*****

I've just read the bible story about Jesus raising Jairus's daughter from the dead to Nidhi. She contemplates this for a while and then says:

"I want to be like Jesus. When I die and go to heaven will I be able to do all the things that God can do?"

No longer 3yo

4yo: Can God carry the world?

Me: Yes, he can do anything

4yo: Can he carry you, and me and daddy, and all the 6 billion people in the world?

Me: Yes, he can

4yo: Can Samson carry that?

Me: Hmmm... no I don't think so

4yo: But he was very strong. Can Samson carry 10 people?

Me: Ya, may be, but not the whole world.

4yo: Can God carry himself?

Me: (sigh!) Yes, I think so, since he can do anything

4yo: Even though that is impossible?!

Me: Uh..uh..

After life

3yo: Can we use toilets in heaven?

Me: Yes, I guess so. Why do you want to know?

3yo: Because daddy said we'll live in heaven for ever and ever.

About God

3yo: Did God make poor people and robbers too?

Conversations with God 2

Nidhi, in the middle of prayer

".. and I am going to be a very good girl, so you will not have a chance to throw me into hell. .."

Conversations with God

We've been in the habit of saying prayers (usually the Lord's prayer followed by a blessing for everyone in the family) for a long while now. Lately I thought I must encourage Nidhi to make her own prayers. So I ask her to think of things 1) to thank God for 2) to say sorry for 3) to ask God for 4) anything else she'd like to say

Some of her prayers:

Dear God, Thank you for Saturday and Sunday so that we can have lots of sweets and chocolates (she is allowed sweets only on weekends).

Dear God, thank you for the places like hotels where we can go and stay and have lovely food. And thank you for vehicles like trains and cars so that we can go to far away places. (After the church weekend away)

(Is there anything about school you would like to thank God for)

Thank you for the outside so that we can play.

(Is there anything you dont like about school?)

Yes, I dont like the school building. No, I dont mind it. Actually, I like everything about school.

Thank you for making Amma so that I can talk to her.