Writer’s Rant
May 13, 2025
The Wisdom and Strength of a Child
I am only beginning to understand death from a child’s perspective. My grandson has witnessed the slow death of his other grandfather who passed away recently. Before his passing, he shared many thoughts about the illness, if his “Pepa” would get better, and why the hospital and doctors weren’t “fixing” him.
We may see suffering as the illness takes its toll, but the realization of the implications of one’s illness never really hits us until the end of life. As adults, we may openly or privately allow ourselves to grieve the loss and we encourage our children and grandchildren to do so too. It’s a healing process that helps us to overcome the shock of losing someone so dear to us. We may never truly be healed, but it softens the blow and allows us to move forward with fond memories of how things used to be.
I am left wondering however how a child views all of this. I received a text with a picture of my grandson, kneeling before the open casket of his Pepa. He appears stoic and thoughtful; his elbows resting upon the kneeler and his head resting in his hands, gazing upon the peaceful sleeping grandpa he knew and loved. And I am told he returned several times to view him laying there. Perhaps he found comfort in seeing him lying there so peaceful. Or maybe he just needed to remember him one last time on this earth. Maybe, someday I will show him this picture and ask him what his thoughts were on that day and learn a bit more about the wisdom and strength of a child.
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