Life Lessons don't come from the Stock Market...

When you feel like you're not sure what you're doing here, have a conversation with a 4 year old... you'll get some perspective...

This morning I breakfasted in a quiet house with my son, Yoram was at Shul, Odeliya was still asleep, and so was my mom. Staying with my parents carries with it fun, family, love, and unhealthy treats... Like Fruity Pebbles. Although at least it provoked conversation...
Netanel asked me who the characters on the box were and explained to him about Fred Flintstone and cartoons and the "Stone Age"
"When Abba and I were young, this cartoon was on TV about people who lived at the same time as the dinosaurs."
"But are they really real?" asks Netanel, spoonful of artificial colors and flavors overflowing on it's way to his mouth.
"No, they were just make believe. Why?" I can tell there are gears and cogs moving around in that little brain and I am wondering if I can illicit a peak at the thoughts they are generating. Luckily, I am blessed with an articulate and precocious young man.
"Because if they were real then they'd be dead. Like the dinosaurs."
"Yes that's true."
"But are they very old?" hmmm, where is this going?
"Well, not really. I mean the show isn't on anymore, but they characters don't really get older, because they're not real."
Here it comes, I can tell because he looks off beyond my left shoulder and begins to speak.
"Sometimes people who are old can still stay young in our minds. Like Grandma and Sabi you and Abba."
"Really, why?"
"Because then they won't really get old, and when they die, I will still remember them in my mind."
Aha. Is it all four year olds that ponder the brevity of life? And more importantly, the desire to hold on to what we know...
"Netanel," I begin gently, "you don't really have to worry about death, you know."
"Why not?"
"Because we can't really do anything about it. We just have to live our lives and enjoy every minute and do what we were created to do. And when a person dies, it's sad for us because we miss the person, but it's not sad for that person, because their Neshama goes back to Hashem."
"Yeah, but I miss Saba." My grandfather passed from this world a year and a half ago.
"I know, but now Saba's Neshama is with Hashem, and now he can be really happy, because his body isn't hurting anymore."
"Yeah, and it takes a long time to turn into someone else." What?!
Netanel climbs onto my lap, his bowl now half full of soggy cereal pieces bleeding their colors into his milk.
"What do you mean, Tani?"
"When your Neshama goes up to Hashem, it takes some time before you become someone else."
I don't want to lead him, I want to hear what he thinking... I feel as if I am on the edge of an icy cliff with nothing to hold onto, what do I say to get his soul to continue talking to me?
Don't we let our mind fill with our bodily needs, our subconscious chatter, our misconceptions, failures, the feelings of that which we lack. Don't we stop letting our souls speak? And yet as children, that part of ourselves that is so pure, so connected with the Source of all knowlege and understanding, can still speak through us?
Netanel gave me just a little more, but I didn't get the whole thought from him.
Oh, how it changed my day to spend those moments with my beautiful and wonderous little gift.

What are we but indelible memories in the minds of our loved ones?...