What do you say when a trauma involves children?

We often have no idea what to say in the face of senseless loss. That is especially true when children are the victims of tragedy.  The shooting in Newtown, Connecticut was and is heartbreaking in so many ways, not the least of which is the staggering loss of children.  What does one say to the parents, family and friends in a trauma involving children?

Following is a helpful response/ blog written by Rev. Emily C. Heath on the day of the Connecticut shooting:  Thank you Emily for sharing your wisdom:

My first two years in ministry were spent as a chaplain assigned to the emergency department of a children’s hospital with a level one trauma center. During that ministry I saw so many senseless tragedies. I also heard some of the worst theology of my life coming from people who thought they were bringing comfort to the parents. More often than not, they weren’t. And often, they made the situation worse.

Here are five things not to say to grieving family and friends:

1. “God just needed another angel.”

Portraying God as someone who arbitrarily kills kids to fill celestial openings is neither faithful to God, nor helpful to grieving parents.

2. “Thank goodness you have other children,” or, “You’re young. You can have more kids.”

Children are not interchangeable or replaceable. The loss of a child will always be a loss, no matter how many other children a parent has or will have.

3. ” He/she was just on loan to you from God.”

The message is that God is so capricious that God will break parents’ hearts at will just because God can. It also communicates to parents and loved ones that they are not really entitled to their grief.

4. “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.”

Actually, some people do get a lot more than any one person should ever have to handle. And it doesn’t come from God. Don’t trivialize someone’s grief with a “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” mentality.

5. “We may not understand it, but this was God’s will.”

Unless you are God, don’t use this line.

And here are five things to say:

1. “I don’t believe God wanted this or willed it.”

A grieving friend or family member is likely hearing that this is God’s will from a number of other people. Affirm the idea that it may very well not be.

2. “It’s okay to be angry, and I’m a safe person for you express that anger to if you need it.”

Anger is an essential part of the grieving process, but many don’t know where to talk about it because they are often silenced by others when they express their feelings. (For instance, they may be told they have no right to be angry at God.) By saying you are a safe person to share all feelings, including anger, with, you help the grieving person know where they can turn.

3.  “It’s not okay.”

It seems so obvious, but sometimes this doesn’t get said. Sometimes the pieces don’t fit. Sometimes nothing works out right. And sometimes there is no way to fix it. Naming it can be helpful for some because it lets them know you won’t sugarcoat their grief.

4. “I don’t know why this happened.”

When trauma happens, the shock and emotion comes first. But not long after comes our human need to try to explain “why?” The reality is that often we cannot. The grieving person will likely have heard a lot of theories about why a trauma occurred. Sometimes it’s best not to add to the chorus, but to just acknowledge what you do not know.

5. “I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I am here to support you in whatever way feels best.”

Even if you have faced a similar loss, remember that each loss is different. Saying “I know how you’re feeling” is often untrue. Instead, ask how the grieving person is feeling. And then ask what you can do to help. Then, do it and respect the boundaries around what they don’t want help with at this point. You will be putting some control back into the hands of the grieving person, who often feels like they have lost so much of it.

Thank you Emily for sharing your wisdom on how to care for parents, families and friends
when there is a trauma involving children.  (Emily’s advice is helpful whenever there is a death of a child.)

For more information about avoiding Cliches and Quick Fixes:  Click Here

Photo credit: Melissa Wiese