The Salvation Debate

My children attend a small Christian school on the West Side. We were very happy to get them into the school, and for the most part, we're still happy. Yesterday however, that happiness met with a little kink.

My sweet daughter climbed into the van and promptly asked me two questions;
1) Mom, how many times exactly did Jesus die?
2) Is it true that even if you're saved, if you do bad things and don't get forgiven you'll go to hell?

The answer to number was easy enough to give, and I could see where her confusion came into play. I guess it IS a little confusing to think of Jesus dying on the cross, coming up out of the grave three days later, lingering on earth, and THEN going to heaven. Especially when your ten year old brain believes that when you die, you're present with God immediately. That one was easy to clear up.

The latter however, engages with personality quirks, theology debates, and doctrinal confusion. Figuring out a way to explain to her that many of the authority figures in her life (her teacher, her parents) have DIFFERENT beliefs about something so personal and intimate as salvation was NOT quite the place I'd wanted to go on the drive home.

We had home group last night, and so I broached the subject with our group. Represented at the table was a span of Christian maturity, as well as elders who've already traversed the difficult questions of adolecence with their own children. I value these people; their insights, and their experiences. I can't begin to put into words what it's like to have 50+ years of experience to glean from, and I don't think I'll ever go back to a typical small group of people my own age.

In the end, I can clearly see that whats more important is that I'm able to assure my daughter of the Savior who truly saves her; who did what He said He'd do - which is give her eternal life with Him. She chose Him, she lives for Him, and whether or not she does a list of things right, or never makes a good decision in her life, she belongs to Him. Period. Helping her to have the confidence in her faith is my job - I could debunk THIS teacher, but there'll be another one sometime else down the road; another teacher, a friend, or maybe even a husband. Teaching her to stand firm in her faith is the best gift I can give her today.

The Cast of the Village

Thinking about how I want to tell this story, I realized I need to at least begin introductions to our cast of (colorful!) characters.

Paul - that'd be my beloved. . .also known as my sweetheart, honey, pooh bear, and often, butthead. We've been partners, lovers, friends, married for nearly 16 years. We have two incredible wee ones as well. . .
Michael - my 13 year old "boy man" who is now taller than me, sprouting a 'stach, and all into girls.
Abigail - my beautiful 10 year old little girl who is content to simply "be" with any of us, and is the love factor for all of us.

Don and Margaret - home owners of the "village," house builders, problem fixers, construction workers, miracle workers. . .friends. . .family.

And then there's me - Holli - and today I'm feeling rather a bit like the village idiot. Maybe tomorrow it'll be somebody elses turn.

In the past, the family has included Carol (Don and Margaret's youngest daughter) and our "family" Rocky and Raven. Rocky and Raven have since decided to move back to John Deere land, but knowing Rocky's desire for a man with a full mouth of teeth, I doubt they'll be staying. I figure about the time Raven brings home a boy with chaw in his mouth and a "high falutin'" ambition to own his very own double wide to park his combine next to, that'll be the day she packs up the wagon and gets the hell out of hillbillyville . Until then. . .who knows.

From time to time there are more (or less) of us. Football season tends to bring in all the other kids and grandkids - I'm not old enough for my own, but I am sure looking forward to the experience based on the fun I've had with Don and Margaret's grand babies! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving, when my precious Aunt Hayley and Uncle Dave will be joining us for about a week.

Choosing to "do life together"

A year ago, we were invited to join our family with another, and "share" our lives with each other. This began a journey that taken us through trials and ups and downs and joy and tragedy and all the elements that life has to offer. When we made this choice, the thought process was relatively simple; we'd do this for "the time being" as we figured out what our next step was going to be. But in the midst of the journey, God brought THREE families into fellowship as ONE.

And so begins the story of we became a village in a big old house, on Hawthorne Avenue.