Day 187
Children can accept loss if there is something to hope for, something to look forward to. But if they view their lives as one loss after another, recovery is extremely difficult.
Here are some general guidelines in helping your children grieve:
- Understand that children have feelings even if they do not show them. A child's initial response, like adults, is denial.
- Tell your children about the feelings you are struggling with.
- Tell them they are not responsible for the loss.
- Help them understand what has happened. Share just enough details to satisfy their questions, avoiding anything that would traumatize them.
- Be there for them. They need more than words. Your presence can help them grieve the loss.
- Help them remember the good times and encourage them to share their emotions.
- Empathize with their hurt without condoning any wrong behavior.
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15).
Lord, You love my children even more than I do. Give me the wisdom to care for them and nurture them through my grief. Amen.
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