I was moved on Sunday morning by the children of the congregation. I wanted to address the loss of life and devastation in Haiti but wasn't sure how. I asked the kids whether they had been watching the news this week. Yes they told me, so what had they heard and seen? They quickly told me about houses that been knocked down, and people who were missing, and family members in Canada waiting for news. Someone knew that the country is called Haiti.
I asked what we could do and one little girl told me that they are having a bake sale at her school to raise funds and others said that their families were giving money. I encouraged them to pray every day for the people of Haiti. I had our Jesus doll on my lap and I reminded the children that we can be Jesus' hands and feet through our love and care.
Later my wife, Ruth, told me that listening to the kids was a "holy moment." Their attentiveness and responses touched her as well. It was one of those moments when I was deeply aware that children aren't just "works in progress." They are spiritual people and Christ's people now.
7 comments:
From the mouths of babes, huh?
:)
Definitely a reminder that many of us don't give them nearly enough credit. They know more than we think they do!
I'm glad you mentioned about the importance of parents talking to their children about disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti. Although they see and hear the news that we adults do, they comprehend it differently and can feel more vulnerable and uneasy.
My kids were still quite young when 9/11 happened and it was a devastating experience for them. They lost a bit of their innocence that day. It caused them real stress. I had been surprised at the depth of their thoughts about what had happened and about the implications of that level of evil. They knew something had changed in the world forever. I saw that they had felt a shift in their own consciousness. We spent alot of time talking about it. I had noticed children on the playground at their school acting out the events in a weird kind of excitment. It bothered me a bit, although I understood their need. My kids chose not to play along. They weren't sure what they objected to but they felt it was wrong for them. They noticed a "hair out of place" in that kind of play. I told them children sometimes acted out their worries,which they accepted.I imagine there were children playing "earthquake' everywhere in the world. That's their CNN. Children not only know what is going on, they definately understand deeper meanings. Because we talked to our chldren about 9/11 one of their teachers called me and told me that one of my sons had stood up in class and spoke articulatly about his thoughts and many of his classmates were comforted. It must have been important for her to take the time to call me about it. I was so thankful my kids wanted to talk to me about it as much as they did. I too was touched by the children on Sunday.
I realized my kids have grown up, Pupil, with this disaster, because they were toddlers at the time of 9/11, and I protected them from the scenes on television playing over and over. I have often turned the news off over the years, as I wanted them to stay young and "unburdened" by bigger worries. Slowly we have let more of the tough stuff of life in, the younger siblings getting it earlier than the oldest. I suppose, as parents, we have grown up too, realizing we can't protect them forever and must offer the "tools" to cope and thrive.
With this tragedy unfolding in Haiti, and my eldest in the early stages of a grade 7 project on natural disasters, we sat that morning and watched the news coverage. Her younger sisters joined us and it seemed right that they know...Know what though, I wasn't certain...that life is fragile? that good and awful things happen? the sense of perspective such a disaster brings to our lot in life?
But you brought it down to what they needed to hear, David...that we are never alone, and God is there to talk to, to help us to help, and to comfort.
As an aside we chuckled as our youngest raced around Sunday morning after adding some of her Christmas money to aid in the crisis, but was desperate to find her "metal money" also, to top it up....coins, she meant. Reminded me of the parable of the lady and the lost coin combined with the poor widow who gave two coins.All on a Sunday morning!
Great parenting from the pair of you. I admire your courage in the face of that particular fire so long ago.
Nine-eleven was the fourth day of my teaching career, and I remember driving to work thinking about how to explain 'terrorism' to my sixth graders. It was hard, but at the same time it was an viscerally interesting time to be alive.
Last year, one of those sixth graders (now 21) and I met on the street and she reminded me of how I had said, back on September 11th, 2001, "in a way you are all fortunate to be old enough to remember and undestand this. I have a feeling it will be the defining moment of this century." That comment, tossed out by a 24 year old rookie chalk tosser, helped to frame how this young lady saw the world since that time. Can you imagine?!
What I learned from that day and about tragedy 'en masse' in general is that if you can frame it as globally as possible, you can take some of the sting out and gain a foothold on your own feelings.
I really appreciate reading these personal reflections. All of us end being shaped by these events, natural and unnatural. Global communication can lead to a rising tide of anxiety. As a community of faith we can remind people of all ages that God is with us.
I really appreciate reading these personal reflections. All of us end being shaped by these events, natural and unnatural. Global communication can lead to a rising tide of anxiety. As a community of faith we can remind people of all ages that God is with us.
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