BRENTWOOD — Not that long ago, Jeff Atwood and his daughter Madison were having a conversation about God. More specifically, they talked about the size of God. Atwood was happy to have this or any conversation with his 10-year-old, because when she was a baby, she contracted bacterial meningitis.
“We almost lost her. She was on life support for several days. She was our first child, and it was her first ear infection. You expect those things will work out. You go get an antibiotic and move on. But the germ moved into her bloodstream and it was affecting the lining around her brain.” Madison survived, but the experience left her with a significant brain injury.
“She doesn’t really comprehend really abstract things; things difficult for her to get her arms around,” Atwood said.
So that day when they were talking about God, Madison couldn’t help but ask about God’s size.
“She and I were sitting around talking about God and she said ‘like Jesus up in heaven’ and she pointed up. ‘Is he like me, little like me?’ and I said, ‘No. He’s big. A big, big God.’ “
After saying those words aloud, inspiration struck.
“I said, ‘Wow. There’s a book idea,’ “ he said.
Hey, there’s a kids song called “Our God is a Great Big God!!!”
Shaun, thanks for the link to the story about this book. I got goosebumps reading about it and my 3 daughters love the Little House books so I’m sure we’ll rush out and get it soon!
I can somewhat identify with Atwood. My little sister (by 2 years) has Down’s Syndrome. The times that I have spent talking with Erin about God and his love for us have been some of the most theological enlightening experiences I have ever had. Erin sometimes promts me to think about areas of grace and mercy that I only lightly thought about myself. Sometimes she says something that can only be described as word from God to me. That’s one of the reasons I love God so much. He can take such a simple conversation and express his love to us in so many ways.