Answering “Why?”

I expect that when a child first becomes capable of carrying on a conversation, their favorite word will almost always become “Why?” When we learn how to answer that question, we can lead them into a level of creativity that should become supernatural. When we stifle that question, we will likely push them to ask it of people whose answers we would rather did not influence them.

I believe that the number of times a child has been answered with something like, “Because I said so,” or “Because the Bible said so,” and not an explanation instead, we are part of the reason the Marxists in American universities can threaten and embarrass and confuse our children out of being believers 75% of the time.

Some “why?” questions are asked because the quizzer wants more time in conversation, and it is a wild card. Some are asking because our statement or declaration didn’t make sense. Some want to know how things work so they can make them do more.

If you don’t want to answer the nineteen thousand why questions the people you are responsible for will ask, whether they are your children, your students, your coworkers or your employees, pray for someone to hand them over to who loves being asked why, and has the right answers most of the time.

When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He said to them.

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
(Luke 2:45-52 HCSB ©®)

In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser
than seven men who can answer sensibly.
(Proverbs 26:16 HCSB ©®)