Apr 08 2009
Does God live forever?
That’s the question that my Riley chose to ask yesterday at her Pop Pop’s funeral. There was much discusion about whether or not Riley and Jack ages 5 and 3 respectively should attend the funeral at all. I was suprised to find that they really paid attention to the words the Pastor was saying. Riley spent the entire service in my lap, we rocked lightly and listened to people tell stories about her Grandfather.
The only time she spoke to ask me if the Pastor was right… Does God really live forever? I told her that He did and she smiled and started the rocking again.
Jackie the little bugger was also listening but he had a bit more to say. Everytime the Pastor paused for breath Jackie was heard in the first three rows to say “Amen!” And at one point in mimicry of the Pastor and his big sister “He lives forever!”
There was quite the bit of hushing going on in the front row. Afterwords we went outside where Riley released a balloon into the sky, the string wrapped around a note that she’d written. As we walked towards the car she turned the conversation towards Pop Pop’s workshop up in Heaven. What do you think he’s building now.
It’s beautiful, this security she has in the knowledge of Heaven. If you were to ask me what’s Heaven, I could speculate or hope. But for Riley in her five year old surety, Heaven is as real as Home.
Children are amazing aren’t they. I thank you for this because I am finding myself dealing with it right now. My kids uncle on their father’s side passed away. They were all very close and I was stuck on whether or not to take them to the funeral on Saturday. I guess for kids they need that closure also and accept things in their own wonderful way.
I’m sorry for your loss, and for your children that their Pop Pop died. This is a beautiful story about love, faith, and Heaven.