We are all in shock and disbelief about the tornado tragedy in Moore, OK this week. Like many, you might have had the thought, “Wow. That could have happened here.” And, it’s true. Tragedy knows no boundaries. It does not discriminate between people. Tragedy can hit any community, any family, any individual, at any time.
Aside from tornados – there are mass shootings, terrorist attacks, Earthquakes, and other tragedies that eventually strike every family. The death of a loved one. An accident that permanently injures someone. The sudden loss of income due to layoffs or being fired. These are the every day tragedies and losses that parents struggle to explain and help their children through.
This is a post that I originally posted back in the Summer of 2012 after the “Batman Theater Shootings” in Colorado. It is a teaching I did for our parents on “How To Talk To Your Kids About Death And Tragedy.” I thought it was appropriate to revisit this post this week. I have included the outline below.
You can hear the audio of the entire teaching here:
Feel free to use this to teach the parents in your own church. I pray it is helpful.
“How To Talk To Your Kids About Death & Tragedy”
- Be honest with them.
- Use appropriate language. Hebrews 9:27
- Allow them to ask questions.
- Allow your child to be emotional. Ecclesiastes 3:4
- Be aware of your own need to grieve.
- Grieve together. Romans 12:15 Job 2:11-13
- Don’t force an emotional response.
- Expect regression.
- Pray together. Hebrews 13:5
- Remember that grieving is a process, not an event.
