life and death

madelyn and i have a few deep conversations almost every week about death and heaven.  sometimes she is crying about how much she will miss mason when he goes to heaven (and i assure her that the plan is for him to live a very long life).  sometimes she is crying because she will be sad in heaven away from her friends (i explain that there is no sadness in heaven).  sometimes she talks about how neat it will be to see jesus and the angels (she seems particularly concerned that mason doesn't understand everything about jesus and insists that she 'needs to go talk to him' in a very serious tone).  sometimes she asks about grave stones and grave yards (when we see them while driving).  we talk about how you have to have jesus in your heart to go to heaven (she is positive that jesus is living in her heart). 

i try to be honest and answer her questions completely, but the truth is that we have no control over how long we get to live on this earth.  the best we can do is try to please God and make the most of each day we do have.  there are reminders daily about how true this can be.  i try not to talk about that part unless she asks specifically because she is only four after all... 

i just wanted to document this line of thinking.  love.