How do I tell a toddler about his grandfather's death?

[JenDox]

My 3-year-old son lost his grandfather this morning. He wasn’t super-super close, but he knows him well. We visited Grandpa in the hospital last night and my son saw that he was very sick. His grandpa was not a man of faith, so we are trusting in the Lord’s mercy because we never know. We are praying! But it is hard for me to say something like “Grandpa is with Jesus.” Our son knows the Catholic faith well (as well as a 3-year-old can). How should we explain to him his grandfather’s death?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I am so sorry for your loss and hope that your father (or father-in-law) is at peace now. May God be with you and your family during this difficult time.

There’s nothing wrong with saying to your son, “Grandpa is with Jesus.” Wherever he is in the afterlife, we may hope that your son’s grandfather is with Jesus. Even in purgatory, the souls there may not have the fullness of the beatific vision, but they have been saved and so it can be said they are “with Jesus” in some sense.

“This life ends,” you might tell your son. “And when it does, the person who has died is met by Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and all the saints. That’s where Grandpa is right now, and we must pray for him that he’s welcomed into heaven and is happy.”

Recommended reading:

A Travel Guide to Heaven by Anthony DeStefano