A few weeks ago, Greg asked the kids three questions over dinner:

Do you believe in God?
Do you believe Jesus Christ was more than a man?
Have you had an experience at any time in your life that made you realize God was real?

So there they all were. Greg and Tina and the five ‘his and hers’ kids. Greg and Tina believe. At least one of Tina’s boys believes. My three are at various stages of figuring out what they believe -- but they know that Greg wants them to believe. They knew that after Greg gave his answers in the affirmative, after hearing Tina and Christopher give their answers in the affirmative, that Greg would be hoping that they would say yes, as well. They did not want to disappoint him.

After a few minutes of silence -- a rather awkward silence, I’ve been told -- they answered truthfully. No.

I’m proud of them -- not because of their answers, but because they told the truth even though they feared their dad’s reaction. And Greg was probably disappointed, but he didn’t react with anger or frustration. They went on to talk about being kind to each other, respecting one another’s property, stuff like that. They are finding out that blending two families of teenagers is not a sitcom.

Now Em tells me this week that she thinks about faith sometimes and wonders where our souls come from. I told her I have those questions, too.

They are not model children, cut from Christian or atheist or Brady Bunch dough. They seek truth, and knowledge, and wisdom.

I am proud of them.