Category: General Reflections
Today, my daughter Sophie (age 7) and I shoveled the driveway together. The snow was not nearly as deep as the conversation. We talked about marriage, death, why people do what they do, why some people don't love God, and why ice and snow exist. It was a wonderful time of working and talking.
Two thoughts linger in my mind. First, why am I amazed at the level of discussion a seven year old is capable of? Do we (I?) underestimate the thinking abilities of children so much that we rob them, and ourselves, of these types of exchanges? Or, are they there all the time, but we miss them because (coming now to the second thought) we don't create opportunities for those kinds of discussions. Are we parents (especially fathers) of young children too busy to talk? I mean, really talk. This kind of interaction between Sophie and me actually occurs quite often, but each time leaves me longing for more.
If you haven't talked with your kids for awhile, maybe you ought to pray for snow.