1.14.2013

Say What? - A Spritual Interlude starring Christopher

Yesterday Hope came home from church distraught over her lesson in primary. It started something like this.
Mom: How was your class Hope? Was it fun having class with Aubrey?
Hope: I'm not sure. It was a little fun, but we learned about the scary thing.
Then something happened and I was distracted until a while later when she said this.
Hope: Do you remember when we were in the big meeting?
Thinking she was talking about sacrament meeting I replied: Yes.
Hope: Who was that man by Jesus?
Mom a little stunned and confused: Did you see Jesus in our meeting?
Somehow it came up that she was talking about the council in Heaven and she kept talking about "Christopher."
Mom: Do you mean Lucifer?
Hope shakes her head but continues to refer to Lucifer as Christopher for the rest of the night.

Once again, a distraction: dinner pauses the conversation. Hope picks it up again when she is supposed to be going to sleep...of course. She is pretty scared by what she has been taught in primary, which annoys/concerns me just a TAD. "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" still seems sufficient for a five-year old to me.
Hope was scared and confused. I was confused and amused. I couldn't help myself. Every now and then a question would draw a giggle even though I was doing my best to comfort and correct her confusion.
She brought home a little paper CTR medallion to hang above her bed. About which, she said: This is to remind me that I am choosing Christopher's plan.
Mom: You mean Jesus' plan. You're trying to choose the right to be like Jesus.

At one point she was very worried that Christopher might come into our house. I explained that he wouldn't and that mommy and daddy know how to protect her. I explained that that is why we do things like pray and go to church and be nice to people. This concept was lost on her as she clearly thought of Christopher as a person just like she is (but that "doesn't have skin like ours") and how would those things keep a person out of our home? I could actually see that this is what she was thinking, but didn't feel the need to try to explain further as this was deeper doctrine than I felt a five-year old (or a tired mommy) should venture.
Finally I asked: Well, did you learn about guardian angels?
Hope shakes her head no.
Mom: Well, we have guardian angels that help protect us. Would you like me to turn on your music?
Hope: No. Does Christopher like music?
Mom: Um, he likes bad music.
Hope: Does he like bad lullabies?
Mom: No. Lullabies are okay.
Hope: Doe he like the "Bad" song?
Mom: Huh? No.
Hope: But it says, "I'm bad, I'm bad." (Referring to Michael Jackson's "I'm Bad")
Mom giggles: I think that one is okay too.

Hope: Why did Christopher decide to change his name?
Mom very confused and tired: I...I don't know.
Hope: Why does he wear yellow shirts?

Hope: Do you know where he lives?
Mom not wanting to dive even further into the abyss that I seem to have found myself in: No.
Hope: But do you have his address?

Upon further reflection I have decided to look up the lesson that she was taught and make it an FHE adventure. It should be wild with unexpected twists and name changes.











3 comments:

Donna said...

That sounds interesting. :-\ I am intrigued. Keep us posted on this one...

Linda said...

wow...I am worried too. I think the teacher should know how Hope reacted to this...very scary, but at the same time...way funny. Loved all the cute pictures of the kids too. thanks Linz

dbozz said...

I agree. You should let the teacher know that she was so worried. It sounds a bit intense for such a young age group. By the way, a couple of these pictures of Noah remind me of Bobby at that age. He's a very handsome youngman.