Why's and Oh's

The other morning I was sitting at the kitchen counter with my godsons, Tristan and Ethan. In case this is a fact you don't know, they are six year old twin boys who I cherish like none other. Some of my favorite moments with the boys happen in the mornings. Whether I'm being woken up from being tackled on the couch, or sharing toast, or planning the day with them, they make me smile and give my heart a lift on rough days. This morning was nothing special. Mindi (their mom) was getting ready for her last camp board meeting here at Mt. Cross so the boys and I decided to make her a special breakfast of coffee cake. We were mixing ingredients in the bowl when Noah, their two year old brother, walked into the room asking where his mom was. "Mommy has to go to a meeting," I told him. And then it began....

"Why?"
"Because mommy has to tell some people about the summer at Mt. Cross."
"Why?"
"Because not everyone got to be at camp like we did all summer and they want to know if everyone had fun, how many kids came to camp, if the summer staff were good workers, things like that."
"Why?"
"Because mommy is the only one who can tell them things like that and those are the things that help make Mt. Cross important."
"Why?"
"Because your mommy works really hard at running camp."
"Why?"
"Because it's her job."
"Why?"
"Because the people at the meeting trust mommy with that job."
"Why?"
"Because mommy loves Jesus and wants kids to know who He is."
"Why?"
"Because Jesus loves mommy."
"Oh."

Many of us know and joke about the "why" stages we go through in life, especially when we are younger. We want to know how everything works, what's going on behind the big picture, the reasons for something happening the way that it does. Tristan, Ethan, and Noah have somewhat turned it into their own joke and giggle every time they ask why and wait together for an answer. There are times when I feel like I am not able to satisfy their desire for an answer to their "why" questions. Often times it is as if I am trying to use to many words to explain or do not know what to say when they ask me "why". Except for the other morning over coffee cake batter. In the end it all boiled down to the love that their mom has for God and the love He has for her. And even though it seemed to be a simple back and forth rally of talking, I think the "Oh" from all three boys says it all. And I can't help but see that manifesting itself in the lives of my friends and myself. Why is Kyle going to Africa? Because God loves him. Why are Stead, Sarah C., Ty, Laura, and Christine working with me at the INN next year? Because God loves us. Why do many of us who believe in the Gospel do what we do? Because God loves us.