Theology with a Three-Year-Old

Matthew: Where’s Hope Abla going to? She’s going to America?
Me: Hope Abla is in --. Paula Abla is in America. Grammy is in America too.
Matthew: Maybe we should go there.
Me: After the baby comes we will go and visit Grammy in America.
Matthew: There is a dog there.
Me: Yeah, Grandmom has two dogs.
Matthew: What’s it’s name?
Me: There’s Charlie, remember Charlie?
Matthew: Yeah.
Me: … and Ty.
Matthew: But Grammy has one dog.
Me: (appropriate change of tone) Yeah, well, Grammy’s dog died.
(Matthew thinks for a few seconds, almost a minute)
Matthew: On a cross like Jesus died on the cross?
Me: No. Jesus died on a cross, but now He’s alive again. Grammy’s dog got sick and it was a really back sickness so it died. Sometimes animals die.

Another time…

Matthew: Look Mommy, Tigger’s having a baby. His name is Jesus. Like Mary had a baby. (Oh, and I should mention Tigger was having this baby in the back of a toy dump truck.)