Some of my family’s best (and most hilarious) conversations happen when we are in the car. Perhaps it’s because we are trapped and can not get away from the nonstop interrogation from our five year old.

We had spent a very hot and long July morning at the park. I was starving and needed a Dr. Pepper. I was really hoping that my children were exhausted enough to sit in silence until I could find lunch. Mom of the Year. I know. But as any parent knows, this is the perfect set up for a kid to randomly ask something like:

“Why is Jesus such a BIG deal?”

He continued…. “Seriously. Why? I want to be a big deal, mommy.”

Lord help us all. If that child only knew how much of a big deal he really is. Bless.

So I responded with the first thing that I could think of that sounded spiritual:

“Well, besides creating you and all…. I can’t think of anyone else who died on a cross for you, buddy. Can you?”

We went back and forth a little bit. He acknowledged that he really did love Jesus and he does think Jesus is a big deal. It’s just that my boy wanted to be talked about a little bit more and he wanted a little more credit for all the good things he did and… and… and… well, Mason Fescoe wants to be a big deal too.

I initially thought that the big issue there was that my child had not quite learned what it meant to be humble. However, I also couldn’t help but think, maybe, just maybe, by God’s grace… my husband and I are doing something right. Is it possible that we have actually made Jesus the big deal that He really is in our home? Have we talked about Him so much, turned enough conversations and questions into spiritual lessons and proclaimed our love and adoration of Him so much, that our children are really starting to see that Jesus. Is. A. Big. Deal.?

I don’t know. But everything I read these days seems to keep pointing back to this passage:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9

My prayer is that I continue to make sure my kids know that Jesus is a big deal and that following him is the most important decision they will ever make in their life. I can’t control everything about their lives forever and I have no control at all over how they will choose to live their lives as they grow older. But I can control how I parent them now and I’m determined to do my God ordained part and teach them God’s Word and how powerful it is. Oh how I hope that someday, my sons will be dads who have children that ask, “Why is Jesus such a BIG deal?”