As a Jewish mother married to a Catholic husband, I’ve found myself reflecting on the significance of Jesus more often than I anticipated. This contemplation has been particularly pronounced as the Christmas season approaches, prompting my curious 5-year-old, Lily, to ask deeper questions about spirituality, Heaven, and her role within these frameworks. With Christmas on the horizon, queries about Jesus have naturally emerged.
Her understanding of religion is, shall we say, a bit muddled. I realized just how much when she recently asked:
“Mommy, who’s that guy who saved everyone? Um… God?
Mommy: Yes?
Lily: Why did Santa—I mean God—put Disney World in Florida? And can’t Santa—I mean God—just make the whole world Florida?”
Where do I even begin? It’s become clear that we’ve overlooked her religious education. Truthfully, we’ve been hesitant to dive into this topic. Neither of us identifies as particularly devout, and we’ve postponed these discussions, thinking there would be a better time. Some aspects have been easier to clarify, such as the story of Moses. We introduced her to Disney’s The Prince of Egypt, armed with popcorn, and let the narrative unfold. She seemed to grasp it, though I suspect she found the darker elements—like slavery and divine retribution—less palatable.
Explaining Jesus is a different matter altogether. This will be our first significant conversation about the divergent beliefs held by her parents, emphasizing that neither perspective is inherently wrong. I had envisioned explaining both religions and allowing her to form her own conclusions. However, expecting a 5-year-old to make sense of whether humanity has encountered a messiah feels a bit much.
Given her current “Mommy phase,” she might lean toward my perspective. Old Testament wins! But I can imagine her teenage years will bring surprises, perhaps even joining a group like Jews for Jesus, or more shockingly, declaring her distaste for challah. For now, the concepts of God and Christianity will need to be introduced gradually, in simple terms. After all, Christmas can be likened to a birthday celebration—a notion any 5-year-old can appreciate, especially when presents are involved.
As we navigate these foundational beliefs, I hope Lily won’t feel overwhelmed by our ambiguous responses. She’s already adept at accepting some mysteries of life, like the idea that soda is unhealthy, despite my own habitual consumption of Diet Dr. Pepper. While we strive to convey the meaning of Christmas, in her mind, it will remain “Lily’s Gift Day.”
Ultimately, as long as she doesn’t expect Jesus to transform the world into a massive theme park, I believe we’ve succeeded—at least for now.
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In summary, addressing complex religious topics with young children can be challenging but is essential for their understanding of identity and belief systems. The key is to introduce these concepts gently and in a way that resonates with their experiences.
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