We put up a huge map of the world in our dining room about a week ago. My husband wants to mark off where the missionaries are located that our church supports. We'll add their pictures and most recent letters to help our whole family pray for them regularly and specifically.
The kids are quite fascinated with the map and have asked what many of the different colors and shapes mean. We're delighted that they are so interested. But we've also been stumped a few times already.
Today, Little Girl asked, "Were (where) is 'nited States of 'Merica?" (We've been talking about cities, states, and countries, and she's learned our country really well.)
I pointed to the continental U.S. and to Alaska and showed her where our city is. She pointed to a pink area (Russia) and we talked about how you have to cross an ocean to get there and it's really far away. Older Boy pointed out Australia, so I told him what it's name was.
He said, "Wow Mom. That's far away. It would take a long time to drive there."
I explained that all the blue on the map was water, so you can't drive to Australia. I said we could take all day to fly there or we could take many days in a boat. Little Girl and Older Boy announced that they want to go there with me some day. (Yes! I can't think of anyone better to go with than my family!)
Then Little Girl asked about Africa, so I explained that it had many countries in it. Then I pointed to the Middle East and showed them where Israel is. I said, "This is where Jesus lived, and David and Samuel and Joshua and those people we read about in the Bible."
Obviously making connections to her Sunday School lessons and Bible stories, Little Girl started scrutinizing the map and asked, "Mom, were is heaven?" I know she expected me to point to another shape on it.
"Uh... well..." I stammered. "Heaven isn't on here."
Older Boy jumped in, "Where is it then? How far is it?"
I decided to be honest. "I don't know."
(Fortunately, they were satisfied with this... for now.)
