My firstborn was about three years old when we took him for his first visit to the zoo. We drove hours to get there and I was so excited to introduce him to exotic and rare animals of all sorts. And that is precisely when I learned that the zoo is not really for 3 year olds.
Of course he enjoyed it – the animals, the food, who wouldn’t? He named all of the animals he saw in books we read. We rode the train and purchased a token souvenir. However, there was a certain thrill, an awe and appreciation he didn’t quite grasp as a three year old. For all he knew elephants and tigers (and maybe even unicorns) lived down the street from us in Washington state.
He did not yet know enough to truly appreciate what it was he was seeing.
It was in that same knowing that my 8 year old daughter approached me the other day with a few questions about David and Goliath. The familiar story that had been read and recounted to her numerous times was now taking on a new shape and meaning.
Was Goliath really as tall as the ceiling, mom?
Was David really just a boy?
And did he really kill the giant with just one stone?
How is that even possible?
And so here we were. She knows that elephants don’t live down the street. That unicorns don’t exist and that the story of David and Goliath seems nearly impossible.
As I searched for words beyond “God is that amazing”, I realized, her questions are mine as well. Over time, familiarity can be breed complacency, but when I really think about it, how is that story even possible? I have a few decades on this girl of mine and it’s enough to know that life doesn’t always play out like that. People don’t always engage like that. What was David’s secret sauce anyhow?
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It’s an honor for me to be among the amazing contributors at Club 31 Women. I’m writing over there today about facing down the Goliaths in our lives. If you haven’t visited their site yet, don’t miss it. Their daily encouragement for women is life-giving. I hope you’ll join me there.
