Snow White is God's Son....

The dangers of being a theology student and a mom of a young toddler... you may not think that sharing the gospel with your 4 year old would be difficult for me. Every night before bed I tell Annabelle the "good news" - Jesus came from heaven and died for our sins so that we can be saved, but he rose from the dead and went back to heaven where he is with us always.

But each night I get more panicked and more panicked. No! That's not all! I think to myself. I really missed something here and she will believe that Jesus JUST came from heaven, and that he only lives in heaven. So I add:

"And he was always pre-existent before the world began."

Anna asks the question: What does pre-ex-mumble mumble make up words... mean?). So I try to explain that to a four year old, an idea that makes my own brain shrivel up. Then I think I'm done.

No! Wait! I have to add more...

"But he is not JUST in heaven now, he's with us, in our hearts, in our lives, everywhere we go, he is with us."

There that should clear things up. Then she asks, "but I thought God was always with us."

Right.

"Well, see, honey, Jesus is God's son."

"Oh! Is Justin, and Ivan God's son as well?" (Justin and Ivan are both individuals - one a cat - one my cousin - who have died in her lifetime that she is aware of. She also occasionally asks if they died on a cross for her sins. She thinks when someone dies, they die on a cross, naturally, for ours sins, but don't worry, I'm trying to set that one straight...)

"No, just Jesus is God's son, honey." - But wait! I have to add, "But in a way, we are all sons and daughters of God. We are adopted by God."

"OH" She says.

Great! She gets it.

Then I panick again. What if she asks about Joseph as Jesus' daddy, and how he was born to a human, and was carried in Mary's tummy? I better explain...

"Also, honey, Jesus was born from humans, but also of God, He is fully God and fully human."

"OH."

Shoot - she's confused! Jesus wasn't necessarily born from or begotten from God...that could REALLY mess her up theologically...I better explain...

"Jesus is not God's first creation, he is not, as Arias would have argued at the Council of Nicea, God's first begotten...homoousia... He is not a creature. You see, Anna, as Alexander argued, and the Council concluded, Jesus is co-eternal and co-substantial with God. You see, you have to maintain the unity of the God-head." Was that too much you think? I waited for her reply...

"OH." Her eyes are closing fast. I panic again! I'm really messing things up! What will she think about Mary then if I emphasize too much that Jesus is divine? Should I explain Theotokos?

"Anna, honey, do you have any more questions for mommy?"

"NO mamma."

"Ok honey. Jesus loves you."

"Yes and He's God's son." She repeats... YAY! She got something! I think to myself....

"And so is Snow White. And Belle is God's son, and Jasmine is God's son, and Cinderella is God's son, so are you and Daddy, and me."

And she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

I watch her sleep peacefully... it is obvious she is not laying awake at night, like I do, trying to grasp the idea of pre-existence and eternity... I close her door and go to my room, lay down in my bed and begin to panic again...

I left out ALL conversation at all about the Holy Spirit! What kind of evangelical covenant theologian am I!? I better go wake her up and tell her about the Holy Spirit!

I hear the Holy Spirit telling me to let this one pass tonight...

Chalk one up for the Seminarian-Mommy. Snow White, is God's son, at least for now.