My husband’s grandma recently died and my kids were once again faced with the loss of another loved one. Their first encounter with death was when our yaya (mine for 37 years and theirs for 6) died last year.
It’s a difficult situation to explain to a child especially when you go to the funeral or the burial. But I guess it’s difficult whatever the circumstances one is in.
I didn’t know how to handle it when first confronted with the situation. Of course I would have to tell them the truth and at the same time I knew I have to protect them as well. Luckily, I was able to talk to a very wise friend and my son’s teacher. And they were able to give me a perspective to handle it with the delicacy that our situation called for.
When a loved one dies, you can say that they are in a deep sleep and after which angels will bring them to heaven where Jesus will then take care of them, cure their illnesses and where they will be very happy to watch over us.
I think not everyone is comfortable with this explanation. It depends on how “realistic” or “mature” you believe your children need to be about these situations. If you prefer to go the matter-of-fact way, of course, that would always be an option. However in our house, we prefer to preserve our children’s awe and wonder with all the innocence, fantasies and imagination that we have enjoyed in our own. There is plenty of time for that later and it comes too soon enough anyway.
Whether you believe in angels or not, your children would. Their spirit is still so pure that images of true and good beings like angels are just natural for them.
I’ve heard some say these are superstitions and children deserve the truth. Do we sacrifice innocence for the truth? imagination for reality? a child’s trust for adult uncertainties?
If we think that way, do we also have to forget about Santa Claus? I hope not…
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Tags: angels