If there’s one thing I have noticed these last few days, it’s that there really is no perfect age/stage for the children of grieving parents.

If they are too young, they cannot understand and empathize. They don’t see a need to go easy on mom and dad. If they are old enough to understand, then mom and dad have to personally grieve while also having the immense responsibility of being there for grieving children.

You can be sad that young children won’t remember a loved one, while at the same time be sad that older children will remember, and suffer more from the loss. You can rejoice that younger children bring innocent joy in the midst of hard times, while you simultaneously struggle because their joy feels so far removed from the circumstances.

No matter how you slice it, it’s hard. I am grateful this week for a Heavenly Father who sees us in grief and comforts us, while also seeing our young children in their innocence and unwavering dependence on us.

Joy and sorrow intimately intermixed, and infinitely understood by Jesus. Fitting on this Ash Wednesday ????