7.16.2008

A walk home from the park...

So I usually only post about events. I'm not very good at just journaling. I'm always worried about how I sound. Today though Owen and I had one of our deep conversations. If you don't know Owen very well we have these often. It usually has to do with a story he's heard about someone getting hurt. He is very concerned about a person's well being both physically and emotionally. Anyway this is our walk home from the park today.

As we walked home we came upon a homeless man. By the looks of him he had been living on the street for some time. As we passed he mumbled, "Do you have and spare change?" We just proceeded on our way and passed by. (not that this is the right thing to do)

Owen looked up at me and said, "Mom he had long fingernails." I told him it was because he didn't have a home and he had no way to clip them. He proceeded to ask why he didn't have a home and where did he live. We walked down and crossed the street.

As we continued on he came to a stop.

"I'm going back," he said, "I'm going to ask him to live with us." At first I thought, how can I answer this without sounding too harsh. I told him we would have to talk to Dad first because it wasn't safe to invite a stranger to come home with us. "We'll ask him his name first and then he won't be a stranger. Jesus would want him to have a home." (He always seems to fit Jesus into conversations like these. How can you argue with reasoning like this?????)

As we continued talking and I told him we couldn't have him come live with us he said, "Well he is trying to get back to Jesus anyway."

"Oh, ya. What do you mean?"

"He was smoking a cigarette so he could get back to see Jesus sooner. Then Jesus will help him get a job so he can buy a house and have a family."

So now we will be talking about the homeless man for the rest of the day. It takes a day or two to move on and find something else to analyze!

7 comments:

Jenifer said...

What a sweetheart with a heart of gold! Homeless people are a hard subject in our house. Sammy gets really affected and upset when she sees them. No right answer I guess. (We tell her the story of Elizabeth Smart)

Kristy said...

It is amazing that he can put it all together - the smoking so he can die sooner so he can get back to Jesus. That one is a thinker.

Karen and Guy Standing said...

When I told Guy about the story he sumarized Owie perfectly, he is a celestial spirit. He will always keep you thinking. What a love he is.

Kate said...

What an amazing, precious child you have. I'm so glad that you share these moments with us.

Ben & McKenzie Nelson said...

Mandy - how precious! How sweet and inocent kids are!

cknyen said...

Mr. Owen is one sweet boy...and what a thinker! Thanks for sharing this. It made my day!! And thanks to Owen, for being Owen.

Anonymous said...

What a little Cutie. I am glad you had that conversation and not me. I just don't know how to answer questions like those. Good job in your answers. He is a little spiritual Giant isn't he! What a doll!