Monday, October 31, 2011

It's a Funeral--Bring the Kids

I came across this thoughtful piece and thought it was worth sharing.  Not long ago I talked to someone who would never do this to her daughter.  Seems a little over-protective to me.  Enjoy!

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October 31, 2011

It's a Funeral--Bring the Kids



Last week, my five-year-old son spent a week in Connecticut with my mom and dad. When he returned, shod in new tennis shoes and somehow taller, I plied him with questions about what he had done with Grandmother and Grandfather.

“We went to McDonald’s,” he began. “And Sonic. And Pumpkintown. And a funeral.”

When ministry kids visit ministry grandparents, the itinerary is sure to be interesting.

My son is actually quite familiar with funerals. As I was writing this, my husband and I counted at least 12 funerals or visitations that our kindergartener has attended in his lifetime. And, while he was attending his thirteenth with Grandmother, my three-year-old and I were at a funeral visitation here.

Our kids have been introduced to death. And I’m thankful.

This month, of course, even my local Kroger has been filled with skeletons and tombstones. But real death—standing in the chapel three feet from a crying widow and the temporal body of her husband—is far more horrible. The plastic bones in aisle 12 trivialize the impact of death. In the covenant community, death means real grief for friend, child, and spouse.

Read the rest here

1 comment:

Megan said...

Thanks for your encouragement about my post. Glad it was helpful!