An Old Soul in a Seven Year Old's Body

On our walk to school each day, we pass a large holly bush.  It's unkempt and brambly and utterly impossible to keep the kids away from.  This morning Ella gave it a good brushing over with her hand before declaring with surprise that it was super sharp.  Really?  We pass that bush every day.  Nonetheless, her observation led to the following discussion.  Mind you, this was all while I was wrangling three kids and navigating the busy roads that lead to school.

Ella:  That bush is so sharp.
Me: Yep, it's a holly bush.  They're pretty sharp.
Ella:  What is the purpose of a holly bush, mom?  Does it have a purpose?
Me:  Well, I can't answer that without doing a little research, because I don't know enough about the holly bush.
Ella:  Mom, does everything have a purpose?
Me:  Hmm, I'm not sure.  I suppose every created thing probably has some purpose.  I'm not always sure what the purpose is, but most things have a purpose.
Ella:  So, what is the purpose of a human being?
Me:  Well, our purpose is to glorify God and to participate in the act of creation.  God gives us lots of ways to participate in creation.
Ella:  So, what if the human never existed?  Never mind.  I guess everything has it's own kind of egg.  For a flower, it would be seeds.  So how is our purpose different from a flower's?
Me:  Well, we're different from flowers and even animals because we are able to think and choose how and if we will participate in creation.  For example, the flower doesn't choose to release its seeds.  Eventually, the seeds just fall and germinate and grow.  The flower doesn't think about it--it just happens.  And you know how you guys always ask me if wild animals are bad?  I always say "no."  A bear is dangerous, but it is not bad when it kills a person.  It's just a bear.  It does not rationally and willfully decide to kill a human being.  When a bear kills someone, it's just eating a meal because it has to in order to stay alive.  When a human kills another human, that is different.  It's complicated.
Ella: Well, about the bears, I mean, what if they killed a human but instead of eating it just left the body to decompose.  Maybe that would enrich the soil.  How about that?  Huh, mom?
Me:  I don't know, Ella.  Just stay to the side of the road so you don't get run over by a car before we get to school.  I can't handle all of these questions.