11 Apr, 2021 Can Books Help Me With My Grieving Child?
by Katrina Cheshire
Using Books To Help With Grief?
Absolutely. Books help children in so many ways!
We all experience grief at different times in our lives. Life in this fallen world includes troubles, trials, and sadness. But when children experience grief, it hits differently. When we hear of a child who has lost a parent or gone through a traumatic experience, our heart goes out to them.
Loss is never easy.
To begin, grief is hard to experience at any age. Furthermore, for a child who doesn’t understand it all, it can be devastating on a whole new level. Children believe that adults can fix anything; that everything can somehow be made right again. In their innocence, they want it all to go back to the way it was before – Kids have a desire to reclaim their joy.
But it’s hard for kids to grasp the concept that we live in a fallen world; that life in this world is sometimes very unfair. They have trouble understanding that hard times and sorrow come to all of us and that we eventually learn to keep going. But, that all seems impossible to a grieving child.
There is only one true promise.
That promise is God’s love and the promise of heaven, which are the best solaces for a child who has experienced loss. Sometimes the right books help the process. Books help because they often convey truth in a way that is hard to do in any other way. Furthermore, most adults have trouble processing grief or trauma. As a result, it is difficult for us to help our children process these things.
We could all use a little help!
So, how do I know which books help?
I found a great list of books that we suggest you look over. Furthermore, here are some of my own suggestions for books about heaven and grief:
Toddlers:
Let’s Talk About Heaven, by Debby Anderson
This sweet book for kids answers questions about heaven and soothes the hearts of little ones who want to know where their loved ones have gone.
Young Children:
What is Heaven Like? by Beverly Lewis
A beautifully illustrated book that deals with a young brother and sister’s grief after their grandfather passes away. The book ends with joy and hope in the promise of heaven.
Tweens:
Hinds Feet on High Places: Delightfully Illustrated and Arranged for Children, by Hannah Hurnard
This unbelievably beautiful book is a healing tale about suffering and difficulty. Rewritten for children with stunning illustrations, it is the perfect book for a tween who is struggling with grief or loss.
Teens:
A Grief Observed, by C.S. Lewis
A perfectly honest and brutally beautiful book about grief. Written after the death of his beloved wife, C.S. Lewis delves into the completeness of his pain and loss, finding faith and truth in the middle of his greatest agony. Every young adult should read this book!
There you have it!
Reach out to children you know that are experiencing grief or loss. They need love more than ever before – remind them of the hope of heaven and the love that the Lord has for them. And don’t forget, books help!
“In my Father’s house there are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
John 14:2
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Katrina Cheshire is a home school and Bible college graduate and the author of Seller of Dreams. She is passionate about good stories and the power they can have in shaping a life.
With seven siblings her life is full of adventure and excitement! She loves to design and sew clothing. She enjoys writing endless stories and read even more of them. You can find her making music with her brothers and sisters or dancing for the glory of God.
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