A few weeks ago, as I was helping him get ready for bed, helping him with taking out new clothes for the next school day, tucking him into his bed sheets and as usually saying his good night prayers with him I asked him what he would like to pray for. He said: ” Mama, can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure ! ” I said.
“Mama how come I have all those red scars on my tummy, and I don’t have a belly button? You know I really want a belly button and I don’t like the way my tummy looks!”
Me and my husband knew that one day this will come up and you can never be prepared for it, as it is such a sensitive topic and so important to the child that asked this big question. I took a deep breath and thought in my head, I just be honest with him and tell him a bit more why he has all those scars on his tummy, knowing how important it is as you grow up and how much more self-aware you get as you get older about things like that.
” Sebastien, when you were a little baby you were very, very sick and the only way to save your live was to give you new organs by operating on your tummy that left you with big scars and by cutting your belly button was lost. Without that surgery you would have died – but this surgery saved your life.”
Sebastien looked at me and said: ” I know Mama, you told me already but I still want a belly button!”
I replied: ” So Sebastien, what would you do without your legs ? Could you walk? ”
Sebastien looked at me and said: “No legs, that would be awful! I couldn’t walk!”
” Sebastien, what would you do without your arm?”
” Oh no, that would be even worse !” Sebastien replied
I went on with this with most of his body parts to make him think what part of his body is truly important.
Then I asked him: ” So what would you do without your belly button?” He paused and said: ” Mama , you are right, I don’t need my belly button, it just collects lint anyways!”
We both laughed and he went to bed with a big smile!
about 2 weeks later……
Just last night again it was my turn to help him to go to bed and we were ready to pray. I asked Sebastien for who he would like to pray.
Sebastien answered: ” Tonight I want to pray for something really special to God that I m thankful. I want to pray and thank God that he saved my life and all that red stuff on my tummy (which he means his scars), I m happy I have all that red stuff and I don’t want a belly button, well sometimes, but I m so thankful he saved me so I can be with you all!”
I paused as I thought it was so beautiful what he said and had tears in my eyes: ” That was very nice of you Sebastien to thank God for all of that, he will be very happy to hear that from you because it comes from your heart!”
He gave me a big hug and kiss and off to sleep he was smiling as he fell asleep. This was one of the most touching moments for me !
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