Heart to Heart

Luke has been asking a lot of questions lately, especially about my father. We don’t say much about my father around here. There really isn’t much to say. But for whatever reason he feels compelled to ask a bunch of questions. I have no problem answering anything he asks because I have nothing to hide. Two days ago, out of the blue, we had the following conversation:

Luke: Mom you didn’t grow up with a Daddy?
Me: No Luke I did not.
Luke: Why not Mom?
Me: Because my Dad chose not to be part of my life.
Luke: Why did he do that?
Me: I don’t know.
Luke: Does he have another family then?
Me: Yes.
Luke: Oh, my Daddy didn’t choose to live with another family. He chose to live with me. I love my Dad.
Me: Yes Luke, you have a really great Dad.
Luke: So was he married to Grandma then?
Me: (squirming a little) No he was not.
Luke: So is that why he lives with another family?
Me: I don’t know Luke. But Luke when two people make a baby together, both people should take care of the baby.
Luke: Oh yeah. Babies are special.

This kid is only five and half. Tonight we had another conversation about heart break. It started with a discussion about how the heart works. We listened to each other’s chest for the sound of our heart beat. Then we had the following conversation:

Luke: Mom, Daddy’s heart broke when his Daddy went to heaven. He smoke cigarettes and ate junk food.
Me: Yes, Luke Daddy’s heart broke when that happened. We need to take really good care of our bodies because we only get one!
Luke: Cigarettes make smoke all over your lungs then you can’t breathe good!
Me: Yes, that’s right. We shouldn’t even try smoking ever because once you start a lot of times it’s really really hard to stop. Can you imagine how horrible it must be for those people who really want to stop but just can’t?
Luke: Yeah, how awful. My Dad doesn’t smoke cigarettes.
Me: Nope.
Luke: Your heart broke when your Daddy chose not to be part of your life? You must have had a bad life.
Me: Part of my heart was broken but, God knows what is best for me. He has a plan for all us. He knows what is best for you and me and Daddy and Wyatt. Sometimes God’s allows us to experience things that hurt our heart because we learn so much from those painful times. I trust God and His plan.
Luke: Really? Oh my heart is broken right now.
Me: Why Luke?
Luke: Because I miss my best buddy Evan. School ended and its been days and days and days since I got to play with him. I miss my friend a lot. My heart hurts.

This kid thinks deeply and loves deeply too. I am so blessed to be able to have these talks. It’s most certainly one of my favorite parts of being a Mom.