Guardian Angels

The boys have frequent nightmares, and every night I assure them that their Guardian Angels will protect them, and that they have no need to be afraid.  I asked them what they thought a guardian angel might look like.  When they said cute little babies with diapers and wings, I had to correct them.

Mom: "No.  Angels are BIG and STRONG.  They are God's warriors!  Gabriel and Michael are two of the head angels."
Colby: "HEY!  Gabriel was around when Jesus was a baby!"
Quinn: "How do you know their names, and why do you know what they look like?"
Mom:  "Some people have seen them before, and the angel's told them their names."
Quinn:  "I've never seen my angel.  I don't even know if it's a boy or a girl".
Colby:  "When I was a baby I saw an angel.  It was a boy angel with wings.  He told me to not be afraid, he would protect me.  I spoke to him in baby language, but I still remember". 
Mom:  "Well, in the Bible, that's the most common thing angels tell us.  Do not be afraid!"
Quinn: "Why?"
Mom:  "Because God is more powerful than the most evil villain, the most horrible monster.  If God is protecting us, what can hurt us?  So there's no reason to be afraid!"
Quinn: "What's heaven look like?"
Mom:  "It's the most beautiful place.  Think of the most beautiful place you've ever seen, and multiply that by a million. There's a gate made of pearls, and the streets are of gold, and there are houses that Jesus has made for us to live in."
Quinn: "Can we fly to heaven in an airplane?"
Mom: "Nope.  It's not a place on earth."
Colby:  "Gabriel spoke to Joseph in his dream."
Quinn: "How does an angel get inside our HEADS????"
Colby: "And Jacob climbed a ladder in his dream all the way to heaven."
Quinn: "So, Jacob knew how to get there.  It was really far!"
Mom:  "Well, that was only in his dream."
Colby:  "Heaven's on a cloud".
Mom:  "Well, not exactly.  It's hard to explain."

An in depth discussion on heaven, souls, earthly bodies, and time ensued.  If there's no time in heaven, how do we need know when to eat?  How can souls move around if they have no bodies to move them?

Mom: "Your soul is FREE without a body.  It can fly higher than the birds, or swim below the water."
Colby:  "Your soul can swim like a duckbill platypus."
Mom:  "Uhhh, right". 

Quinn wanted to know how a body could turn young again when Jesus came again.  So many questions!  And such GOOD questions!  And Colby seemed to have a lot of answers, orthodox or not ;).  It's alot to wrap your mind around, isn't it little men?  It's alot to wrap my mind around, too. 

Angel of God, My Guardian Dear

to whom God's love commits me here.

Ever this day be at my side

to light and guard and rule and guide.

Amen.