In the past couple years, we have grieved at too many funerals and memorial services for loved ones. Such occasions make us face the stark reality of death in a fallen world (Heb 9:27). We honor the deceased with stories of remembrance, tributes of their life accomplishments, and our presence among the grieving. As Christians, we also honor Christ with our songs of praise and the gospel truths of his resurrection (1 Pet 1:3-5). Although we are sorrowful, we do not grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13).
At a recent Celebration of Life service, my four-year-old daughter was watching the livestream with my wife when she asked, “Where’s Mr. Dave?” In the entirety of her young life, she had never known her preschool teacher, Mrs. Gail, to sit in church without her husband of forty-nine years. We explained how Mr. Dave had gone to heaven to be with Jesus.
We thought she understood until, at dinnertime, she prayed for Mr. Dave to feel better soon. We assured her that Mr. Dave actually is doing much better now that he is “home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8) and living in a perfect place without sorrow, sickness, or death (Rev 21:4). Our daughter’s innocent questions reminded us that we are always instructing our children as they encounter such realities for the first time (Eph 6:4). We now live in a world where occasions of grief are livestreamed into living rooms and children learn the reality of death at a much earlier age.
A few days later, our family was reading a children’s version of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, which helped us to discuss deep truths about the Christian journey in a child-appropriate way. The story explained that no pilgrim is ever too young to set out for the Celestial City. So I asked my daughter if she wanted to go to heaven like the little girl in the story. She replied she did.
So we talked about Jesus and what she must believe to be assured of her salvation. She accepted these truths and, to our joy, professed her faith in Christ. We certainly plan to have many conversations to come, but our hope and prayer is that all of our children will set out on this path to heavenly glory.
It is never too early to start reading the Bible with our children or talking with them about Jesus. In truth, we must all “receive the kingdom of God like a child” (Mark 10:15). I know this personally because I was only four years old when my own mother led me to faith in Christ. I had begun asking questions about death after a family member’s funeral. So my mother explained what happens when people die and how I could go to heaven if I believed that Jesus died for my sins and rose again in victory (Rom 10:9). I too made a profession of child-like faith which has remained genuine for the entirety of my life.
Don’t miss these moments of grief which often turn our hearts and our children’s hearts toward the glory of heaven. May their questions prompt us to search God’s Word for encouragement and hope as we lead our little pilgrims on a spiritual journey (Rom 15:4).