At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me
This week I have one of the hardest things that we as clergy have to do. I am conducting the funeral of a young baby, a child who never really got to experience the beauty of life, and whose parents only got the shortest of times with their child.
What do you say? What can you say? “I understand how you feel” is no use, because I don’t, and I pray to God I never will. “It will get easier as time goes by” is rubbish too, for these people it will never get any easier, they will always have questions and anger at the world who took their child away.
No, all you can do is listen, help them say goodbye in their own way, and try to point them towards people who can help. For those of you with a professional or personal interest, there is the Child Death Helpline on 0800 282 986. This service is run out of Great Ormond Street and Alder Hey Hospitals, and is staffed by volunteers who have themselves lost children in the past. These are the people who DO know how you feel, and can sympathize as no other can.
Their website is at http://www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk and if you can spare them a though when you are looking to suppot a charity, I and many others will be eternally grateful.
