Grandma, I Need Your Prayers by Quin M. Sherrer

Author:Quin M. Sherrer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Array
Publisher: Zondervan

• Accept the reality of the death (or other loss).

• Experience the pain of grief.

• Begin to adjust to life without that loved one.

• Talk about the person when you feel like it (cry and laugh if you want to).

• Do something to memorialize the deceased (give a memorial contribution to church or charity, establish a scholarship in her honor, plant a tree, or start a tradition like celebrating that person’s birthday each year).

Bernice and her husband get up at five o’clock every morning, take a long, brisk walk, and come home to pray together in what they call their morning huddle with the Lord. Then they eat breakfast. When any of the six grandchildren sleep over, they often join this prayer time.

“We pray on many occasions with our grandchildren,” she told us. “And we’re especially glad our deceased son’s children still live close enough to visit us and that their mother lets them come!”

Ideas for Helping a Child Cope with Loss

Often a child may blame God, another person, or even himself for the death of a close family member. He needs constant reassurance that the tragedy was not his fault. If the loved one was a Christian, it is helpful to talk about his or her new life in heaven. Praying with the child through every phase of the grieving process is the most helpful thing a grandparent can do. Holding the child and letting him cry will provide comfort and companionship. Another consideration is encouraging the child to talk with someone who has suffered a similar loss yet come through without bitterness.

Talking about special memories helps a grieving child who is in a state of shock after the death of a close family member. Going through picture albums can help him reminisce about the loved one he has lost. Sometimes putting together a “memory book” about that person is an outlet for his grief.

Author Jay Kesler reminds us that grandparents have a unique opportunity to help the younger generation see mortality for what it really is, while measuring things with eternity’s values. He writes, “We can point to a faithful God and say, ‘I’ve lived a long life, I’ve had a lot of experiences, and I can tell you, you can trust God. You can believe in Him; He’ll take care of you.’ … As grandparents, we can gently usher our grandchildren into an understanding of death not as an end, but as a beginning—a doorway into eternity.”4

As devastating as divorce and death can be for any family, we have a Savior who can ease the pain and comfort the brokenhearted. To help with the recovery process, we grandmothers can provide listening ears for those who grieve and offer our prayers to the one who has the power to bring healing.

Prayer

Lord, help my grandchild [name] cope with [his/her] loss. Be [his/her] comfort, [his/her] strength, and [his/her] peace. Help [name] not to feel abandoned, and let [him/her] know [he/she] is not to blame for the tragedy. Be close to

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