[Uglygreen]

Got a call from the principal at our local elementry school. There was a car crash on a road near my house on Thursday. A little girl was killed and her mother is in critical condition at the hospital. The little girl attended the same school we do, and is also in my daughters first grade classroom. Im sure they were friends.

I know this is going to be hard on her. I have no expierence with anything like this. Im kind of in shock. There will be a meeting of the parents at the school on Sunday and a crisis team in the classroom on Monday.

I have little idea of what to say or do? Lots of love attention and reassurance for sure, but beyond that? Please pray for the mother and family of the girl that died, the other kids at her school, and my family. Also please pray that God will guide me in what to say and what to do over the next few days or weeks. Your prayers mean a lot to me.

Brad

 

[letsfish]

I am praying!!

 

[DAB]

I am praying!!

Me to
DAB

 

[Dullhook]

My prayers for everyone concerned. :angel:

 

[Uglygreen]

Hey brothers and sisters, I could use some help. We are soon off to church, and I dont have time to research.

This afternoon we are going to tell the kids what happened with their friend. Since I first posted, God has awnsered my prayer, and I have gotton a lot of good expierence and suggestion over the last couple days. There is also a meeting for the parents in my daughters calss tonight at 6 at there school that I will be attending.

If anyone could post a list of some appropriate bible passages with regard to Jesus and children, I would really appriciate it. I remember some of them, but any help would be great.

Sometimes bad things happen. I don't know why. I do know God can bring some good out of anything tragic. Maybe God can open a door here for us to talk and grow as a Christ centered family?

Please keep us in your prayers.

Brad

 

[Dullhook]

It's so hard for children to comprehend a tragedy like this. I wish you the best of luck with your meeting, it's a tough but very important job. :hearton:

One of my favorite passages from the N.T; shows the special love Christ has for children. I'll use the "Living Bible" translation rather than the "King James", since it's easier for kids to understand (often adults too!) :smile:

Mark 10: 13-16


Once when some mothers were bringing their children to Jesus to bless them, the disciples shooed them away, telling them not to bother Him.

But when Jesus saw what was happening He was very displeased with His disciples and said to them, "Let the
children come to Me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they. Don't send them away!

I tell you as seriously as I know that anyone who refuses to come to God as a little child will never be allowed into His Kingdom."

Then He took the children into His arms and placed His hands on their heads and He blessed them.

 

[Uglygreen]

Yeah, thats one of the ones I was looking for. Perfect, thanks.

I was also thinking I remember a passage where someone (lazerus??) died and Jesus was sad and cried too?

Brad

 

[Firedog]

Our prayers are with you and your family. I was talking to a good friend of mine today and his family is also close to this family through school and church. With the stuff going on in my life I hadn't heard about this terrible tragedy. Our prayers are with you and the young mother to recover quickly.

 

[Uglygreen]

Thanks, Firedog. we are doing OK and the other family is still in our prayers as well.

Brad

 

[letsfish]

here is a prayer request regarding this family via our church prayer "chain":

Please continue to pray for Kaelyn Coday's family. Kaelyn was buried on Saturday and her mother still doesn't know she died, as she has been kept sedated.. Pray for wisdom and timing, and for peace and comfort. They will have a memorial service when Mom is able to attend. Please pray for the children and teachers at Mary Woodward School. There is a memorial service for the 1st graders tomorrow morning (Wed., Nov. 23.), to remember Kaelyn and to try to bring closure for these children who don't fully understand death. Pray for Kaelyn's teacher, Michelle White, as she tries to meet the children's needs while grieving herself. She will be speaking tomorrow and wants to hold it together. Michelle shared that parents and children are openly sharing their faith. Please pray that through Kaelyn's death, others might come to life in Jesus. Thank you for your prayers.

I hope this provides an update for those praying.

 

[Grantspastor]

UG..the passage you asked about is John 11:35. It says Jesus wept concerning Lazarus' death

 

[FireCat]

Personialy If you want my 2 pesos worth dont be frighten on what to tell a child about death, or any serious matters. And with the rest of the family Ill get to that latter. But from what I have found out through the years and reading scripture is, a child has something that we dont, and that is abundant faith. Yes that right When Christ said "unless you have the faith of a child , you will not inherant the kingdom of God" Christ didnt say that to hear his head rattle. We as adults are not ontune in abundant faith as a child. We worry every day about, how are Jobs will go, what to eat for dinner, What kind of clothes to wear, Do we have enough money for gas etc. Enstead of just trusting our heavenly father. And with a child they dont worry, they have faith that mom or dad will take care of them, they have faith that when they wake up they will be well taken care of and they will be fed, they have faith that when they go to sleep nothing will harm them. And when they get hurt mommy and Daddy will take the hurt away. And I have seen many of times when death accures or hardship, they can take it like a faithfull champion. They dont need a theoligical explanation of heaven, they have faith that its there and a God excist. And if they have faith that they are protected by their mommy and daddy, they they also have God given faith to believe that mommy and daddy has someone taking care of them also. So dont give some kind of fairy tail sorry about death, tell them the truth you would be supprised on what real truth these children can bear. And as for the remaining adults, many times bible verses do not help at this time, and I say that with all do respect to Gods word, "YOU" are his chosen vessel at this time, "YOU" are Christ example to cry when they cry, be in the valley when they are and when they hurt "YOU" hurt also. Being a Bible quize master at this time dont do much good, when they biggest question is "WHY" and none of us can answer that, His word is used at these time to comfort and not to find answers. I have ask "WHY". YOU have ask "WHY" and Christ when he was hangging on the cross, also ask "WHY". This is where childlike faith comes in and just accept that it is done in some way to glorify God. "WHY?" We will never know this side of heaven...Lord Bless, and oh! yes I will be in prayer also

 

[Uglygreen]

Thats good thinking Firecat. Of course the first thing I wanted to do was to try to fix it; to explain it away, to protect her, to make it better, to control it. Better to just be there an trust God to do his part. Here is pretty much where we wnded up.

"Sometimes bad things happen and we dont know why. It makes me sad. We are going to be OK. Jesus cried when his friend died too. What can we do for Kaylin and her family? We can pray. We can make a card. We can make a dinner. Yes, I am sure Jesus loved Kaylinn."

Those are the kinds of things we talked about. So far Kelsey seems pretty OK with it.

I really believe that God can bring good out of any tragic thing. I'm still learning how to see that good. One day at a time.

- Brad