Amazing grace

I've always found it challenging to have tough conversations with kids. I never know exactly what to say, or how much to share in order to answer their questions without sharing too much. Poor Brady is probably still scarred from our Lady GaGa "disco stick" conversation around Christmas.

Last night I had a cool discussion with Hope that I won't soon forget. We were driving to Clarksville for a dance recital, and passed the cross on the hill near Ozark.

Hope: That's like the cross Jesus died on.
Me: Where'd you hear about that?
Hope: In a book.
Me: What book?
Hope: Um, I think it's called a Bible.
Me: Do you know why Jesus died on a cross?
Hope: No.
Me: So if we believe in Him, we can go to heaven when we die.
Hope: I believe in Him.
Me: Me too.
Hope: When it gets dark tonight, I'm going to make a wish on the wishing star that Jesus would live in my heart.
Me: You don't have to wish on a star, sweetie. You just have to ask Him, and He'll live there.
Hope (yelling): HEY, JESUS. WILL YOU COME LIVE IN MY HEART?

Now, I know she doesn't really understand how it works, nor does she understand why we need eternal salvation, but I love the simplicity of her acceptance of it. Because, really, we try to make grace too tough.

After that talk, she decided we needed to sing some Taylor Swift. Hope's philosophy: if you don't know the words, just sing really loudly.