What do you say to a child who has just lost her granny when she tells you she's angry with God?

Question

I want to help my niece, she's 9, and her granny just passed away a few days ago after having been sick for quite some time with cancer, but my niece is very angry with God because "He didn't want to make her get better!" Telling her that Granny is with her brothers and sisters now and watching over the rest of her family isn't working, or that God has need of her in heaven now, either.

Answer 1

He took granny because he knew she would have a great time in heaven and that she is watching over your niece right now.

Answer 2

Tell this child that it is natural to be angry when someone we love dies. Emphasize that Grandma is very happy in Heaven, and not suffering from her illness any more.

Tell her that, in Heaven, you spend your day in the presence of God. And, since God is light, and love, and truth, it is the very best place that any of us can be. Ask her to remember a time when the sun shone warmly on her face; when she was wrapped up in her Mommy's arms; when she swung on a swing with the breeze in her face. Tell her THAT is how Grandma is spending her time. She has no more pain, no more sadness. And she is looking down at your little niece in love.

Answer 3

Tell your niece that it is ok to be angry.  It' will help her grieve.

Answer 4

Let her be angry. It's the first step of the grieving process. She has to go through every step or else she won't be able to properly handle death of loved ones.

Answer 5

At 9, she's having a huge heartache because someone she loves very much is gone.  Let her know it's okay to be mad at God.  God understands her feelings.  She'll have to work her way through this, but finding acceptance with you will help.  

Answer 6

the thing about "He didn't want to make her get better" you could try to explain to her that her granny is in heaven where she will never be sick and she is in peace.Or something like she was sent to god because she finished her life on earth and she is in a better place.and sometime she will be able to go to heaven and see her granny and be with her.

Answer 7

i think it is natural for your niece to be angry, when i was about the same age my grandpa died and at that time i felt both angry and sad, when all my cousins went up to his coffin to put a rose on top of it, i refused to do it as i just felt really upset and sort of confused about what happened to him. but now im older, i regret not putting the rose on his coffin and i think your niece will also realise that its not really anyone's fault.

best of luck, M.B.

Answer 8

God did not want her to suffer any more, that she had suffered enough. He took her to a better place where she would not be in any more pain and have a beautiful place to be and rest in peace. That she had completed the work that God had for her to do here on earth so he took her home to heaven. God knows that a lot of people will miss her and be up set with her being gone and he will for give them for being angry at him for taking her. He knows in time they will get over that anger but they will always remember her. I hope this will help you in some way. I am very sorry for your loss. May God look over You and Your's Always.