The other morning I had the blessing of spending some good time with my 7 year-old daughter. In addition to just enjoying some quality time together one of my aims was to find out a bit more about what she was thinking spiritually.
In the midst of our talk I asked her about why Jesus is so special. Her answer was…surprising:
Because, he’s basically magic.
At this point both of my eyebrows came together somewhere in the middle of my forehead. “What do you mean by that?” I asked.
She went on:
Well, he can do whatever he wants. He heals people, he makes food out of nothing, he rose from the dead. He’s basically magic. He’s magic.
As we continued to talk I found out that she was talking about the fact that Jesus is unique in his power and what he has done. I was beginning to understand better.
This is definitely a label I had not previously heard applied to Jesus. At least, I hadn’t heard it with the corresponding orthodox explanation.
This brief talk, intending to help her, may actually greatly serve me in the long-run. Her answer became the platform and reference point for further discussion. It showed me areas to shine some light on and to amplify.
Also, through this I realized again the importance of asking questions, asking follow up questions, and not assuming that my kids are getting the perfect data transfer from my mind to theirs. This applies when we talk about anything, but especially theological matters.
Without a doubt it is good for parents to take some time out and spend one-on-one time with an individual child. This becomes even more tricky when you have multiple children. But, the payoff is worth it. The importance of this is something I am beginning to realize myself.