Our Costume

Malinda has this book about Lazarus that she loves to read. It's just a simple board book with little flaps but she loves it. Every time we read this book we get into a conversation about dying and what happens to us. After all, as the book states, anyone who believes in Jesus will never die. This confused her because she knows that her Aunt Kristy and Great Grandma loved Jesus but why did they die? So, I explained to her (the first time we had this conversation was in November shortly after Halloween) that our bodies are like costumes. The real us is inside but we wore our bodies as a costume. I know it isn't the perfect illustration but my then 3 year old got it. She understood that the real her was inside and this body was just a shell.

So tonight as we read the book again we had a similar conversation. I reminded her that the real us would never die but one day our costume would. I reminded her that the inside was most important and that is why we shouldn't worry about our costume so much. She then looks at me and says "well, when I get baptized my old self will stay in the water and I will get a new self when I come out of the water." She seemed super excited about this so I gently told her that she will get a new inside self but she will keep the same costume. She seemed okay with this but a little disappointed at not getting a new costume.

So, I got to thinking about this costume. It's just a tool. Just a body to house the real me. If this is so, then why do we get so caught up in caring for the vessel? Of course we need to be healthy (I am currently working on taking my costume in a few sizes) but I think we can easily become obsessed with taking care of something that is just housing the real us. I want to be a good steward but I don't want to lose focus on what is most important. Let's stay healthy so we can use our costume, our vehicles as long as possible but when it starts to break down I pray I realize that it's just the vessel and not me that is breaking down. I hope I am able to stay as focused as Paul when he said in Philippians 1:21-24 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Now, to find a way to teach this lesson to Malinda now when she is young.....