I don't know much. Let's get that out of the way right now. The older my kids get, the more I realize that I don't know.
My daughter, Taryn, asks the most questions. But, at age 9, I suppose she has to set the bar for Trevor, almost 7, to live up to. Either way, they are a constant stream of questions, and more than anything I have to tell them that I don't know.
I don't know where that police car is going.
I don't know why some people like brownies with nuts in them.
I don't know why Taryn feels scared when she gets stomach aches, but Trevor doesn't.
I don't know why we decided to paint out house green.
I don't know if we will live in this house forever, or if we will move.
I don't know where we will move to, if we move.
I'm always sorry, but I just don't know...
Today we went to church. Our church is all about love. In fact, it's on all the marketing. We love "all people, at all times, in all places." At church it's easy to love. After all, we're only there for an hour, and we're surrounded by people who've read our flyers. After church is when the challenge starts. After church.
Today, after church, we went to lunch with some friends. On the way in, we passed a young man, in his twenties, sitting outside of the restaurant. He was patting his exhausted dog, who was lying flat panting like ours does after we've taken her to the dog park. He didn't say anything to us when we walked in, but my husband asked him how he was doing, and he said he was ok. We got inside and Jayme said, "I want to buy him lunch." I was afraid we might offend him. He hadn't asked for money or food, and what if he had been out exercising with his dog and they were just taking a break. Jayme went anyway, and chatted with the guy. They had a brief conversation, and Jayme got the guy's lunch order. A few minutes later he returned to the man with lunch, and water for the dog, and the guy said, "If you're not in heaven when I get there, I'm going to have a chat with Jesus." Jayme told him that he would be, and invited the young man to join us at church next week. He said we could even keep an eye on his dog so he could attend. The guy was surprised. "Really?" he said. My husband said, "Yeah man, we just want people there who want to be loved. That's what church is all about." The guy was even more surprised to hear that, and said he would try to be there.
After church I answered all the questions that flowed from the mouths of my inquisitive offspring.
I don't know if the guy will come to church.
I don't know why he is having hard times.
I don't know how he gets enough food for his dog.
I don't know why he can't live inside of Publix.
Per usual, I don't know.
This much I do know. I was proud of my husband today.
I was proud of the example he set for our kids for how to treat people with kindness, respect, and love.
I don't know if we were taken advantage of, or not. I don't know if the man contributes positively to our society or not. I don't know if he abuses drugs or alcohol, or if he has a job.
I do know that it doesn't matter. It isn't about what the people we show love to do with it. It's about the condition of our hearts. My kids saw love in action today, and that can only be a good thing.
