nHissvc
05-15-2008, 04:13 AM
We had a death in our family, recently, that my daughter took pretty hard (her first personal experience). I was at somewhat of a loss as to how to deal with her grief and believe me, I tried many approaches, including seizing the opportunity to broach the subject of resurrection with her.
Nothing really seemed to assuage her bouts of sadness and I was really becoming concerned. I noticed recently, though, that she seemed to be handling it a little better, although still somewhat preoccupied.
She subsequently shared with me that a couple of the other children in her class were upset about recent deaths in their families and that she had, on separate occasions, told them about God and the resurrection, in order to comfort them.
She also mentioned the "kingdom of God" to them. One child inquired as to whether he would have to die to go there. She told him maybe not but "you will get a new body".
She also told them about God's forgiveness, saying, "God gives second chances you know". When they asked what she meant, she said, "you know, if you do something wrong and you are a sorry, if you say "God forgive me", He will you a second chance".
She said one of the little boys was sitting next to her later on in the day and lay his on her shoulder. She asked him, "why are you laying on my shoulder?". He replied, "Oh...I'm just thinking about my grandmother". She said that she just put her arm around his shoulder, then "patted him on the back".
God is apparently using the experiences of these children to heal her.
Now, I just have to figure out how to remind her to be cautious without feeling as though I am "quenching" or inhibiting the good news that is, obviously, flowing from her.
She drew the ire of her teacher (who is now on maternity leave), one time, for sharing the fact that there is "no santa claus", during a discussion on the topic.
The recent departure of her regular teacher, however, has apparently been liberating for her because she told me that she told the substitute teacher that God loves her. This teacher is obviously more receptive, as she replied, "if He loves me, then I love Him".
The teacher's aid who also assisted the regular teacher seems to be feeling more liberated also because she chimed in, "I love the Lord too"!
Go figure...
--Boundless blessings.
Nothing really seemed to assuage her bouts of sadness and I was really becoming concerned. I noticed recently, though, that she seemed to be handling it a little better, although still somewhat preoccupied.
She subsequently shared with me that a couple of the other children in her class were upset about recent deaths in their families and that she had, on separate occasions, told them about God and the resurrection, in order to comfort them.
She also mentioned the "kingdom of God" to them. One child inquired as to whether he would have to die to go there. She told him maybe not but "you will get a new body".
She also told them about God's forgiveness, saying, "God gives second chances you know". When they asked what she meant, she said, "you know, if you do something wrong and you are a sorry, if you say "God forgive me", He will you a second chance".
She said one of the little boys was sitting next to her later on in the day and lay his on her shoulder. She asked him, "why are you laying on my shoulder?". He replied, "Oh...I'm just thinking about my grandmother". She said that she just put her arm around his shoulder, then "patted him on the back".
God is apparently using the experiences of these children to heal her.
Now, I just have to figure out how to remind her to be cautious without feeling as though I am "quenching" or inhibiting the good news that is, obviously, flowing from her.
She drew the ire of her teacher (who is now on maternity leave), one time, for sharing the fact that there is "no santa claus", during a discussion on the topic.
The recent departure of her regular teacher, however, has apparently been liberating for her because she told me that she told the substitute teacher that God loves her. This teacher is obviously more receptive, as she replied, "if He loves me, then I love Him".
The teacher's aid who also assisted the regular teacher seems to be feeling more liberated also because she chimed in, "I love the Lord too"!
Go figure...
--Boundless blessings.