Mickey's Space

Five-year-old Mickey O’Toole ran into the living room. “Mommy, what’s space?”

“What an interesting question, Mickey. Actually, space has many definitions. Come up here.” She helped Mickey climb onto her chair and sat him on her lap. “See I saved this space right here on my lap for you. How’s that for a definition?”

Mickey stretched out his arms. “No, mommy, I mean big space.”

Sensing an opportunity do a Bible lesson with her explanation, Margaret O’Toole reached for pen and pad on the table. Balancing her wiggling son on her lap, she began to draw some circles.

“What’s that?”

“This is the way God sees our world. We are like little pebbles in the God’s sky – we’re a part of space. God formed our world like you make a snowball.”

Mickey giggled.

“He shaped all of the earth and the moon and the stars.” She drew pictures as she spoke.

Mickey pointed at the pad, “which one of those circles is earth?”

“Why this one right here.” Margaret used her pencil to select one of the circles.

“How’d people get on this circle?”

“Well, remember the earth is round, like your snowball.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, God picked a very special place right in the center of this big ball.” She pinched his nose. “Like your nose is in the center of your face.”

Mickey giggled some more.

“And He filled this place with trees and ponds and plants and fruit.”

“Were there big fish in the pond?” Mickey loved to go fishing with his cousins and Uncle Sean.

“I imagine so, great big fish, cause God also put in this place a man and a woman, named Adam and Eve.”

“Did they have an uncle to take them fishing?”

“No honey,” Margaret laughed. “Adam and Eve were His first people. God created them.”

“God created them?”

“That’s right, pumpkin, God just put them right there in that special garden because He loves people and especially people just like you and your sister, Mary.” She lightly tickled Mickey. Their old tabby cat purred at Margaret’s feet.

“Mommy, did God create Mr. Stripes too?”

“Yes, honey, God created all of the animals, plants, and people. Isn’t God really nice?”

“Where were all these animals and people?”

“They weren’t anywhere Mickey, God made them. He made everything in the Universe – His space.”

“Outer Space like T.V.?”

“Well, kinda, God made everything we see.” Margaret wondered where the conversation was headed. “Do you remember the song we sing in Sunday School? ‘He’s got the whole world in His hands, He’s got the whole wide world, in His hands,’” Margaret sang softly as she stoked her son’s reddish hair.

Mickey snuggled tightly to his mother. “God’s really big isn’t He?”

“Yes, honey, He is so big that He sees everything, but He is also so tiny that He can be with every person’s heart -- and all they have to do is ask. That’s what we do when we pray. We talk directly with God.”

“Can we talk with God right now?”

Margaret felt a smile cross her lips. “Certainly, why don’t you start.”

Mickey placed his hands together. “Thank you God for everything. I think your space stuff is really neat. A men.”

“Amen,” Margaret softly echoed. “Okay, have we answered your question about space.”

“I guess so.” Mickey slid off of the chair.

“What else did you need to know?”

“Oh, I just want to know what Mary meant when she said for me to give her some space or she would punch me in the nose.”