Life After Death

Our Grandma Phyllis passed away peacefully last week. She lived with us for almost 3 years and even though we have been preparing our kids for the inevitability of this, we have been concerned that this major change in our household and lives would really upset them.

So far, these are their reactions:

Grady: "Dear Jesus, please help me to be a good boy today and please help Jesus to help Grandma have a nice time in Heaven. Amen."

Emma: "Mom. Can we eat outside for dinner tonight because we usually can't because Grandma is here and it's too cold for her to eat outside but since she died and is in Heaven she won't be too cold and we can eat outside. Please?"

and "Mom. I'm really, really, really glad that Grandma is in Heaven because she loved God and now she doesn't have to be really old and sick anymore."

So yeah, I guess their mourning has been a bit less traumatic than we thought it would be. Oh to have such peace like a child!

{one of the ways that we prepared our kids (mostly emma) was by reading a little book called "What happens When We Die?" published by Moody Press. it's a very matter-of-fact yet comforting book about a child's reaction and questions when a bird dies. I would recommend having a copy around the house if you have kids}