Today, Ethan and I were outside, throwing a basketball back and forth. He was being his normal silly self and throwing it, sometimes to me, and sometimes over his head behind him. We were having a good time. Then, he stepped on a grasshopper. He had seen this grasshopper while we were playing, and it was obviously "ailing", as it wasn't moving very fast at all. Well, he felt horrible. He started crying, and the grasshopper was not yet dead, so I got a boot and squished it (in the grass, so it wasn't laying there on the sidewalk). I told him it was hurting and if we killed it, it wouldn't hurt anymore. NOT a fun conversation for me.
We went and sat on the steps after that and he just wanted to cuddle. He was whimpering and saying, "It's my fault!" Oh my goodness, my heart broke for him. He felt such pain for hurting this bug. I told him it was an accident and that sometimes accidents happen. I told him it was okay to be sad and that it shows how much he cares about God's creatures. I know it's a bit far-fetched, but I told him that the grasshopper wasn't hurting anymore and was now in "bug heaven". He asked what the grasshopper's name was. I told him I didn't know, but that he could name him. "I think I'll call him...Heaven Man." I tell ya, I've never met a sweeter kid in my life.
He keeps talking about the grasshopper. He keeps apologizing for "hurting God's creature." I reassure him that it's all okay. And I thank God for placing such a warm and sensitive spirit inside my little boy.
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