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Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/15/2008 5:37:54 PM
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TammyIsBlessed
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I thought we could start a thread to give each other some help on answering some of the difficult questions our kids have asked, or that we're concerned they might ask.
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I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do. Helen Keller
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RE: Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/15/2008 5:40:01 PM
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TammyIsBlessed
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I'll start us off.....
Sometimes the kids will ask "Why is it raining?" I usually answer that God is making it rain to help the grass and plants grow.
With the increase in tornado activity in our area over the recent years I'm concerned that they may ask "Does God make tornadoes?" or "Why does God make tornadoes?"
How do you respond to questions about "acts of God" and their destruction?
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I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do. Helen Keller
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RE: Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/15/2008 6:15:32 PM
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DenimDiva
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You may want to try a more complex of an answer, like explaining how tornadoes are formed?
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RE: Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/15/2008 6:32:21 PM
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March7
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From: Western US
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quote:
ORIGINAL: TammyIsBlessed
How do you respond to questions about "acts of God" and their destruction?
Well, I have what could be a grown-up's understanding that would then have to be condensed into age-related simplification for a child. 
Our pastor's sermon today spoke in part on this question as he spoke on a larger topic based on Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." When speaking of "acts of God" his answer (in adult language) focused on original sin. He said he's personally not going to put himself in the place of assigning the blame of, say, a devastating hurricane on the sin of the people as some have done with this and that tragedy in the world. (He says that may or may not be God's design in allowing such things, but the main thing is that we allow ourselves in the midst of such suffering to be driven to Christ and to serving others through Christ.) However, he says, when sin first entered creation, in the garden, God directly cursed the serpent (Genesis 3:14) and the ground (Genesis 3:17). Regarding the ground (the earth), he noted how creation groans as if in the pangs of childbirth as it awaits the day of Christ and His glory (Romans 8). He wondered if the groaning of creation might not be expressed in the earth as "acts of God"...the results of not so much of the current sins of the people but of original sin (the entrance of sin into the garden).
So, if a parent resonated with this understanding of "acts of God" ('cause I know different folks might have different scriptural understandings), then this might be an answer to be simplified for a kiddo perhaps. 
< Message edited by joninon -- 6/15/2008 6:39:04 PM >
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"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy...before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 1:24, ESV).
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RE: Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/17/2008 7:05:07 PM
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DreadPirateRandy
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When you're responding to children, one thing to remember is to not talk down to them, but at their level. Use the best answer that would explain the question best to your child so they can relate and comprehend.
quote:
ORIGINAL: TammyIsBlessed
Sometimes the kids will ask "Why is it raining?"
When I was younger, I wondered why it was thundering. My grandma always responded, "the angels are playing drums".
You could actually make a Bible lesson out of this question and talk about Noah, the flood, and even the significance of rainbows. You can also throw in a bit of science if it helps further explain the question, but nothing overly confusing.
quote:
"Does God make tornadoes?"
He did create the elements which a tornado is formed out of. A simple answer would be yes. God created all things in existence.
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The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact.
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RE: Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/17/2008 7:20:59 PM
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bzirk
Posts: 3073
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Where the deer and antelope play
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quote:
ORIGINAL: GrapeApe
When you're responding to children, one thing to remember is to not talk down to them, but at their level. Use the best answer that would explain the question best to your child so they can relate and comprehend.
quote:
ORIGINAL: TammyIsBlessed
Sometimes the kids will ask "Why is it raining?"
When I was younger, I wondered why it was thundering. My grandma always responded, "the angels are playing drums".
You could actually make a Bible lesson out of this question and talk about Noah, the flood, and even the significance of rainbows. You can also throw in a bit of science if it helps further explain the question, but nothing overly confusing.
quote:
"Does God make tornadoes?"
He did create the elements which a tornado is formed out of. A simple answer would be yes. God created all things in existence.
Good response.
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Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)
Great quote: I just ain't God and don't know it all. -- SonInMe1
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RE: Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/18/2008 12:00:07 AM
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TammyIsBlessed
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How do you explain the more difficult question of... Why would God make tornadoes if they can kill people?
_____________________________
I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do. Helen Keller
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RE: Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/18/2008 7:21:35 AM
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creationtalk
Posts: 626
Joined: 6/9/2005
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quote:
With the increase in tornado activity in our area over the recent years I'm concerned that they may ask "Does God make tornadoes?" or "Why does God make tornadoes?"
How do you respond to questions about "acts of God" and their destruction?
When God created the earth, it was perfect. It did not have rain storms or tornadoes. The earth was watered by dew or mist.
When God created man, He gave him dominion over the earth. When Adam and Eve chose to go against God, the ground was cursed. All of God's perfect creation was damaged and upset. Weeds began to grow where once there were only perfect crops. People and animals began to get hurt or sick and die.
But people still chose to sin. So God sent a flood in judgment of sin. In the course of the flood, the very structure of the earth and atmosphere was altered and with it the types of weather patterns we experience. Hurricanes and tornadoes are part of the result of the flood. God created the the forces that now result in tornadoes and hurricanes to move air over the earth to moderate the temperatures and water it (transport moisture from the ocean to inland). However the changes to the perfect pattern and flow of the created forces due to sin have resulted in bad things like tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. God did not create bad things, but His creation was corrupted so that the forces that God created "perfect" now result in imperfect things. God allows both the good and bad in His creation (he has not yet chosen to repair the creation--that will come after the judgment by fire) because the good shows us the beauty of God's original creation so that we can see a little of His glory and He allows the bad that has corrupted His creation because it shows us a little of what is to come if we reject Him.
God uses both the good and the bad as tools to draw us closer to Him and to recognize that we need God.
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RE: Dealing with serious/difficult questions kids ask - 6/19/2008 1:49:38 PM
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PatricksPeaches
Posts: 303
Joined: 5/13/2008
From: Michigan
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Having to explain some very hard things to my dd a few years ago has led me to one thing! ALWAYS tell the truth. Do not make up stories to try to ease their pain. They deserve the truth and will be better able to deal with the truth later on in life. Now, I am not saying going into details about some graphic things but do tell them as much as possible. God does allow bad things to happen but it is for a reason and we are not the ones to judge God on any issue. I hope this helps some!!
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*Robin*
I am not claiming to have all the answers but I'm holding on to the one who does!
-quoted from a song by 33Miles called Come With Me
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