Learning about death

My Grandpa Charlie passed away recently, so we have been discussing what happens to people when they die. Andrew has been the most curious this time, and I'm trying to figure out some of what's going on in his head.

On the morning of Grandpa's funeral, family members were gathering in a room in the church to visit, look at pictures on display and look at Grandpa's body in the casket (if you so chose to). N & C seemed either to be oblivious or they were ignoring the dead body laying in the room. (There were lots of people in the room and they mostly paid attention to Suzie or anyone else who spoke to them, so they may not have noticed or they felt a little uncomfortable looking at the body, as I usually feel.)

However, Andrew kept asking me to go over to the body, and he'd say "I want to see that man." I explained that it was Great Grandpa, and that he had died and that was his body. He would look for a minute as I said that Grandpa had died and that his body looked like he was sleeping, and then he just climbed out of my arms and stood there. My aunt Lesa said that he was probably feeling the Spirit of Grandpa in the room and wasn't scared or morbid, just curious and peaceful about the whole thing.

Today he randomly said that we forgot to bury Grandpa Charlie. I reminded him of when we were standing in the snow under a green tent and that Grandpa was in a pretty big box that had a flag on top of it. Andrew said, "I forgot to say hi." I explained that it was okay because his body wouldn't have heard it anyway, because his spirit had left his body; now Grandpa's spirit was in Heaven and he could watch over us and help protect us. He seemed to be okay with all of that, but I sensed that he was trying to figure out if there was more to figure out. Three year olds have a lot weighing on their minds.

Grandparent Pictures

I thought it would be nice to show some of the people I come from. They are my Grandma Olive White, Grandma Erma Keller, Grandpa John Gardner, and Grandpa David Gibby.

- Darren

Christmas pics

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