Grieving with Children: Looking to Jesus
For those who have experienced the loss of a child following the birth of other children, it can be so hard to navigate your own grief while also shepherding the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of your other children. Calli Williams is sharing her experience on helping her children grieve with hope.
As Hope Mommies, God gives us the beautiful ability to lean into Him while He turns our ashes into beauty. Our response to the trials we face in losing a child is a walking testimony to turn others towards Him—especially those closest to us.
While journeying through the loss of our daughter, my husband and I saw the truth of the Spirit blossom in our home. Each time a question came up, we could run straight to the Word. Each conversation we had we could point our living children towards Christ.
Here are just a few of our family’s favorite Scriptures to reference:
Mom, when I think about Blair I get sad.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
Darling, you can take your sorrows to God and lay them at His feet through prayer. God doesn’t want these emotions to cause you anxiety. He loves you and has blessed us immensely in many ways.
Dad, it makes me feel so lonely when I think about how much I miss my sister.
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.” Genesis 28:15
Sport, I can understand how lonely you feel when your heart hurts, but I want you to know that you are never alone. God is constantly watching over you, and He will never desert or forsake you. You are important to Him.
I just don’t understand why God would allow this to happen to us. I thought He loved us.
“For I know that plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
It is really confusing to try and find all of the answers to the questions we may have. It is so important to always remember that no matter our circumstance, God wants what is best for you. He wants you to put your hope in Him, and through Christ you will have a beautiful future.
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Since losing our precious Hope Baby, my relationship with Christ has been something I have desired like never before. For the first time, a part of me is with Him in Glory, and because of that, I need Him like never before. It pains me to admit this, but it is true that God used Blair’s short but big life to pull me deeper into the waters with Him.
If that rings true with me, why shouldn’t it ring true with her brothers and and sisters? The constant knowledge that Blair is with Jesus is now such a sweet thought to all of my living children, and it is even sweeter to know they will one day be in Christ’s presence with her. Had we chosen to sweep their questions and their emotions under the rug, we could have missed an enormous opportunity to share Christ with our children.
My children love Jesus and His sacrifice for us. They love their sister, and now their little hearts have a tangible way to relate to what heaven is and how to achieve eternity there.
“Jesus said to him, ” I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
God wants His children to know that in hard and confusing times He loves us and He is kind. We do not need to fear for He has a wonderful plan for us all.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Pointing our living children towards Christ in their grief journey is one of the most beautiful fruits of our Hope Baby’s life.
This post originally appeared on the blog on April 19, 2016
- Calli
Hope Mom to Blair
Calli Williams is a passionate Christ follower. Calli is married to Jared, and has six children: Gavyn, Grant, Bertie, Gwyneth, Blair, who has been in Glory since November 2014, and Brynne, who joined their family in November 2015. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading when she can steal a quiet moment, using her creativity to craft, and splurging on anything chocolate.
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