I Believe
Thing of it is... the following is a conversation between me and Raquel, my granddaughter, when she was 5 years old.
Raquel: GG, what are those people talkin' about on TV? Why are they yelling around like that?
Me: Oh, they're arguing because they disagree. They both think they're right. They each believe something different and each of them thinks what they believe is the truth. Sometimes, it's hard to know what's really true, don't you think?
Raquel: Sometimes...
Me: Like what?
Raquel: I don't remember what those are right now.
Me: Oh, okay. But, if you feel like you really need to know something what do you usually do?
Raquel: I ask Mommy. I ask my Dad... At school, my teacher. I ask you, when I'm over here.
Me: Have you ever asked a grown-up something and they said they didn't know?
Raquel: Grown-ups know stuff. Sometimes they say it and sometimes they don't say it. Sometimes they just say go play outside or somethin'. You don't know stuff huh, GG? You don't know stuff all the time! Ha ha ha!
Me: Ha ha ha! That's true. But, if we don't know we can look it up.
Raquel: Like on the internet?
Me: Yes... and books too.
Raquel: The internet is faster! Ha!
Me: It is. So, tell me what happens when you ask someone and they don't know. What do you do then?
Raquel: I think about it sometimes but not that much. I only believe stuff that's true. You're only supposed to believe stuff that's really true.
Me: Oh, okay. So Raquel, what do you really believe that you know for sure is true?
Raquel: Hmm. I believe when it storms, sometimes the lights go out. And when the lights go out... it's dark!
Me: You're a smart cookie.
