Loth,
I thought back to when my father passed away. It was sudden and there wasn't any pain. He died from smoking cigarettes. As a human the pain came and the thought that I can't ask dad this or that. As a Christian the thought crossed my mind that my father could receive no greater gift or fulfillment of life than to be with our heavenly Father. IF you truly love someone you want them to be happy. There is no place on this earth he could have had that kind of happiness. Letting go didn't mean saying goodbye forever. I'll see him again someday.
When it came to telling my son, age 8 at the time I was all alone. As we boarded the plane that evening to fly to my Mom's home the skies were so beautiful, the colors were astounding and I felt as if I were seeing art work that my dad not bound to this earth had painted just to soothe me and my son. So I told him that. I told him that Pop had gone to stay with God. I didn't tell him Pop had sickness, heart attack or died. In a sense he really didn't die, he just went to go be with God.
My son cried because I cried. When we got to the funeral home he asked where Pop went, and I said....Remember the beautiful sunset and clouds? He went to Go help God paint heaven.
I figure the world will fill him in on death, dying and things like cancer, disease and the like. But to an 8 year old boy his Pop is in heaven painting things for God, and will be there for us when it's our turn to go to heaven.
As far as the get well cards? Why not? When you take away hope, from the sick what do they have to look forward to. Let them have their hope that she gets well. Their hearts are beautiful and I'm sure GGM likes THOSE cards better than something an adult tells them to create. If I were dying and knew it? A card like that from a child would certainly spark MY day. It would say to me - SOMEONE hasnt' given up on me - not yet.
I would say at their age until she actually goes to be with God and share her talents with heaven? Let it go. Kids have enough grief in their life today. My son doesn't remember anything about that day EXCEPT the beautiful clouds and painted sunset and that THAT was his gift goodbye from his Poppy.
The next time someone we knew passed away, he was 16 and he said.."What do you think HIS gift to heaven is Mom?" - 8 years later he still remembered.
Hugs - My depest prayers for your families understanding.
Star
