Define: God

I read this from Genn’s post and immediately liked it. It is an essay written by an 8-year-old boy named Danny Dutton from Chula Vista, California. I thought the way he described God was honest, pure and simple. Although I am not a religious person, I find his essay very endearing with a touch of humor. I think he didn’t intend the humor part, it’s just him being a kid. That’s what makes this piece so special in my opinion.

Apparently there are rumors circulating that says Danny doesn’t exist and that this is actually written by an adult. Somewhat like a hoax. But I think that’s not important. It is still a nice essay to read nevertheless.

I am sharing this piece solely because I think it is worth a read, please read it with an open mind (no offense intended). Afterall it is just a very honest essay written by a child (or not…) on an interesting topic. Enjoy!

A Little Boy’s Explanation of God

One of God’s main jobs is making people.  He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.  He doesn’t make grownups, just babies.  I think because they are smaller and easier to make.  That way He doesn’t have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk.  He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.

God’s second most important job is listening to prayers.  An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime.  God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this.  Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.

God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy.  So you shouldn’t go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad’s head asking for something they said you couldn’t have.

Atheists are people who don’t believe in God.  I don’t think there are any in Chula Vista.  At least there aren’t any who come to our church.

Jesus is God’s Son.  He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God.  They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him.  But He was good and kind, like His father, and He told His father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.

His dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn’t have to go out on the road anymore.  He could stay in heaven.  So He did.  And now He helps His dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God.  Like a secretary, only more important.

You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.

You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there’s anybody you want to make happy, it’s God!

Don’t skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach.  This is wrong.  And besides the sun doesn’t come out at the beach until noon anyway.

If you don’t believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can.  It is good to know He’s around you when you’re scared, in the dark or when you can’t swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.

But…you shouldn’t just always think of what God can do for you.  I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.

And…that’s why I believe in God.

Life Lessons Learnt In Kindergarten

Danielle wrote a light and funny post on some common sense manners learnt when she was five, of which still applies today in adulthood. Then, Mindy shared an excerpt from a book in the comments section which I think is cute, sweet yet so practical and inspiring.

It made me realise that sometimes we can be so caught up with our daily lives, worrying about our job and money, we forget about the most simple and basic rules we learned as kids that would help put our life in order in some way or another.

I am sharing the said excerpt from the book “All I Really Need To Know, I Learned In Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum here today. Enjoy!

All I Really Need To Know, I Learned In Kindergarten

All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten. All I REALLY need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don’t hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don’t take things that aren’t yours.

Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if all – the whole world – had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had a basic policy to always put thing back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are – when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

© Copyright Robert Fulghum, 1990. Excerpt from ”All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten”, Villard Books: New York, 1990, page 6-7.

The Thing With Silk

Back in the 1990′s, primary schools in New Zealand offer a home skills course which was compulsory for all students to take, including boys. The syllabus was designed as such so that little boys and girls get to learn  firsthand how to cook, sew, do woodwork, plumbing and other practical skills.

One day, 10-year-old Eric came home from school to his father and asked for $30. It was for his mini sewing project at school, he said. Since $30 was not a small amount in New Zealand during those days, his father asked what this mini project was exactly about.

“Mrs. Grant told us that we are each going to sew a pair of silk boxers. So everyone in class needs to pay $30 for the silk which she will then buy for us”, Eric chirped.

“$30 for silk? That is ridiculous!” his father exclaimed.

“But its compulsory to pass the course, dad!”

“Here’s $2 for cotton instead”, his father handed him the money.

“Dad, but the teacher said silk,” Eric tried to plea.

“Look Eric, your dad here have been wearing boxers for more than 20 years and let me tell you….”

Eric’s dad continued to explain why cotton would do the trick and how silk is not suitable anyway. The little boy was convinced.

The next day at school, all his friends lined up in class to pay up $30 to Mrs. Grant. When it was Eric’s turn, he handed his two dollars.

“Eric, this is not enough. Did you tell your mom or dad that you need $30?” Mrs. Grant asked.

“My dad says $2 would be enough for cotton,” Eric answered.

“Eric, I thought I told everyone in class that we are buying silk, not cotton!” Mrs. Grant said, a little annoyed.

Eric then explained, quoting his father’s words, “Yes I know Mrs. Grant. But my dad said cotton would be better because its airy. Silk boxers stick to your balls…!”

And so, Eric was the only one in class who paid $2 and sewed a pair of cotton boxers instead. He passed.

Inspired by a true story as told by a good friend about her (now adult) son and  (still humorous) husband. All names have been changed.

I Wish

Every morning, I take the bus to university. During one of my routine bus rides, I watched as a mother with two  young children in tow got onto the bus and asked what the total fare for her kids were.

“How old are they?” the driver asked.

Patting the palm of her hands lightly on each of the children in turn, she said “This girl here is three and this boy is four.”

“Alright that would be a total of…for all three of you….”

Suddenly the driver was interrupted.

Tugging at the lady’s left hand vigorously and looking up frowning, the little boy shouted, “Noooooo!! Mommy….I am five! FIVE….!!” He appeared to be really upset.

“Oh sorry, this one’s five,” the lady corrected.

“Five? But you just said he’s only four!” the driver laughed, teasing the lady.

“Yes I know, it’s terrible!” she answered rolling her eyes and turned to the boy and said “Sorry, honey!”

Everyone chuckled as the lady paid and took a seat with her kids.

I smiled at the encounter and thought, why is it that children get upset when you think they are younger than their actual age while adults (especially ladies) get offended vice versa? Some even dodge the age question like it’s taboo. Why is it that kids can’t wait to grow up and when they finally do, they wish they wouldn’t have to?

When I was a kid, I can’t wait to be a working adult because from what I observed, working adults don’t have homework and exams. When I was in high school, I can’t wait to go to university because then I don’t have to wear school uniform. When I was in university, I can’t wait to start working and earn my own living. When I finally graduated and got a job, I wish I could go back to being a student. When I started graduate school, I was happy about student life for a while but now I can’t wait to finish and get it over with.

But most of all, I wish I never had to grow up in the first place and be five and carefree forever. I guess the grass is indeed always greener on the other side. To that little boy on the bus, you don’t know what you are going to be missing!

“Hold it with one hand!”

Like any other weekday, I crossed the road to make my way towards the faculty this morning. A little grumpy because its Wednesday and not Friday. As I was about to get onto the curb, there’s this little kid, half running, half skipping running pass in front of me, both hands up. I’d say he’s about 3, with curly blonde hair.

Not far behind, this young couple, obviously the parents were calling to him, “OK, hold it with one hand, hold it with one hand!”

The kid kept running. And I was squinting my eyes to see what was it that he was supposed to hold. Nope, both hands were up the air and free, no bags or toys dragging behind.

“OK! Stop!! Stop!! Stooooooppppp….!!!!”

The kid stood still, his little pants down to his ankles, hands still up. Ahhhh…..so that’s what he was supposed to hold. He was confused, looking back to his mommy, frowning. Mommy rushed to his side and pulled his pants up then took his hands to continue walking.

I can’t help but smile

I still wonder why both his hands were up in the first place though.

And oh….P.S. Happy birthday Kenix!!