Uncle Raymond

Most of you know that Chris' Uncle Raymond passed away earlier this week. We had the funeral service today and it was a beautiful service, full of stories and love for Uncle Raymond. Even though it is my job to help people walk others through times likes these, I struggled with how to help Natalie understand death. The following is our conversation at the visitation last night.

Me: "okay, lets go look at Uncle Raymond, remember he cannot talk to us."

Natalie: "okay."

Natalie: looking in the casket: "he looks like he is sleeping."

(You shouldn't explain death as sleep to a child because they may fear going to sleep themselves. So I say)

Me: "I know he looks like he is sleeping, but he is not, he died."

Natalie: "but if I'm loud, I could wake him up... UNCLE RAYMOND!"

Me: "Shhhhhh. No baby, we cannot wake him up. He has died."

Natalie: "When will he wake up?"

Me: "well, when Jesus comes back."

Natalie: "Mommy, did Jesus go bye bye too?"

(Okay, now I'm really struggling.)

Me: "you see Jesus is in our hearts, but when we get to see his face, then we will see Uncle Raymond again and many other people who have died."

Natalie: "oh, why are those flowers covering up his feet?"

Me: "because he is like us and his feet might stink and the flowers smell good."

Natalie: "Oh."

Not getting hospice social worker of the year this time folks. :-)

We will all miss you Uncle Raymond!