Today has already been packed with laughs. I don’t know if that is quite appropriate for Ash Wednesday, but kids are just too funny!

This morning we were talking about ashes.

8yr, “Instead of a cross, I want pastor to paint it on like war paint.”

We talked about why we use a cross. The kids decided it is a good choice because it reminds us that Jesus died on the cross.

5yr, “And ashes are black which is almost the color of brown which is the color of the cross.”

That comment was quickly followed by, “Why don’t they just use brown washable paint?”

“How about wine? For Jesus blood, like in communion?”

8yr, “If you use wine, it might not show up on your head.”

Then why ashes? We talked more seriously about ashes, a symbol of death. It is a day when we are reminded that we die too. And that sin brought death into the world. Maybe we mark ourselves with ashes to show we are sorry. Maybe it shows humility as we recognize the greatness of God and our own limited number of days.

We read Ps. 90:12 (Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.) Each of us took turns praying for hearts full of wisdom.

How did your talk about ashes go?