The question will always be there

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“Reach up and take your Father’s hand and say what my daughter Andrea

said to me. ‘I’m not sure where I am. I’m not sure which is the road

home. But you do, and that’s enough.’”

-- MAX LUCADO

When our girls were little, we had many conversations after one of

them asked the question, “Why?” A typical scenario went something

like this:

“OK, girls, you have 10 minutes to put your puzzles away before we

run our errands,” I’d say to Kelly and Amy, who sat on the floor

surrounded by little wooden animals.

Immediately one of them would ask, “Why?”

I gave the explanation, such as: “You have doctors’ appointments,

and afterward, we’re meeting friends at the park.”

The other girl would then usually ask: “Why?” Even after the

puzzles were put away and we were in our car, the questions

continued.

Once I commented on all the different beautiful blues we could see

in the ocean.

“Why did God make so many colors?” one girl asked.

“I don’t know, but I sure like them, and I think there are more

than in all your crayon boxes.”

Sure enough, the other chimed in with the “Why?” question.

Many questions were easy to answer. Once, after a discussion with

Amy, she stomped her feet and asked, “Why did God make me so special,

but you made me so stubborn?”

I answered that God made everybody special, but she was choosing

to be stubborn. While her mind worked, her stance softened and a

smile emerged.

Another time Kelly said, “Mom, I wrote God a letter and colored a

pretty picture. Why can’t I throw it high up to him?”

I tried to explain that God saw and enjoyed it, even though she

couldn’t send it that way. She thought about that and went off to

draw more.

When we went on walks, the girls often skipped ahead on their own,

but if they were at all unsure about something, they’d scamper back

and hold my hand. They also asked many questions as we walked.

Sometimes, the asker never finished her question before starting

to chuckle. Often, both girls burst into contagious giggles, and

soon, the three of us laughed.

“Why are we laughing?” one would ask, and then we laughed some

more.

The questions often showed that the girls truly were interested in

the answers, but there were times when the questions were silly,

annoying or repetitive.

Some of their questions sent us to the library or other resources.

There were also many difficult questions about the painful issues of

life that I couldn’t answer.

I often said, “Wow, that is a great question, and I don’t

understand why it has to be this way, either, but I trust God, and I

know that he can make sense of it all.”

Children ask many questions, and so do adults. I have many for God

that begin with the word “Why?” As I walk, skip and sometimes stumble

along this road of life, I find strength in holding on to God.

The words “why?” and “wise” may sound similar, but they clearly

have different meanings. When I feel overwhelmed with too many

“whys?” I turn them over to the all-wise God, our loving,

trustworthy, heavenly father.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

[email protected] or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

No. 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.