Grieving Grandparents Prayer after the Death of a Grandchild
This Grieving Grandparents Prayer after the Death of a Grandchild is a way to seek and receive God’s strength. The death of a grandchild is a life-altering event that comes with feelings of helplessness and great sorrow. Use this prayer to express your feelings to God.
Grieving Grandparents Prayer after the Death of a Grandchild
Dear God, the unthinkable has happened – my grandchild has died. I am numb with shock and disbelief. This can’t be real! My mind is unable to grasp the finality of the death of my beloved grandchild. I’m too distraught and stunned to cry.
One of my greatest blessings in growing older has been the gift of grandchildren. How joyfully I’ve embraced the role of grandparent. Does the loss of this grandchild make me less of a grandparent? Could I have done something to prevent this devastating loss? Why did this happen to our family? God, I’m crying out to You for answers!
For now, I know I must rise above my own grief to comfort my grandchild’s parents. They’ve lost their child, their heart. Give me the strength and courage I need to support my children. While my loss is great, theirs is greater. This child is their legacy, a part of them from the beginning.
Dear Lord, give me the right words to say. Lead me in actions that will help my loved ones. I don’t want to say or do anything that would cause them more pain. I trust that You will be with my family and me as we cope with this tragedy. You didn’t promise that we wouldn’t have heartaches, but You assured us You would be with us through it all. How I need to feel your presence, God! Hold me close. Give me hope.
Amen
About this Grieving Grandparents Prayer after the Death of a Grandchild
The call my husband Jeff and I been waiting for came late that night. “He didn’t make it,” our son Brent sobbed. Those four words shattered our world. Our daughter-in-law Erin had gone into labor eleven weeks early, and due to cord prolapse, our grandson Welles never drew a breath. We were overcome with shock and disbelief. And sadly, this wasn’t the first time Jeff and I had experienced the loss of a child.
Over thirty years before, our three-year-old son Blake had died suddenly from meningitis. Back then, it was inconceivable that a healthy little boy could be snatched from us by a vicious disease. In the same way, it was unbelievable that a healthy baby boy could die so suddenly. With the death of Welles, the feelings of shock and grief from the loss of Blake came flooding back.
But Jeff and I knew we would need to set aside memories of our grief so that we could comfort Brent and Erin. No one really knows what it is like to lose a child except parents who have experienced that loss. We knew. We understood on the deepest level. We helped our children plan and carry out a funeral service that would be meaningful to them.
Then came the hardest part, learning to live with the loss. Jeff and I brought food, babysat Erin and Brent’s little girl, shared coping strategies we had used after Blake’s death, helped with household duties. Mostly, we listened. Feelings of grief, emptiness, anger, loneliness, guilt – we had experienced them all. And we cried together, grandparents’ tears mingling with those of the parents. Mourning together, we moved toward healing.
We offered our children the hope that things would get better. Their lives would never be quite the same and they would never forget Welles, but they could live a good life and experience joy again. They could look at Jeff and me and see a couple who stayed together, who raised a family, who managed to live a good life after the loss of a beloved child. They could follow our example.
What the Experts Say About the Death of a Grandchild
The death of a grandchild is not something we ever expect. We believe that they will outlive us and carry on a good life long after we are gone.
Grief experts call the loss of a grandchild “a double loss” because we are not only grieving the loss of our grandchild but we also feel deeply the grief of our own child’s mourning over the death of their child.
Grief can also affect the family dynamic because each member of the family grieves in a different way and they go through the stages of grief on their own timetable.
As you grieve, ask God to direct you to support groups, therapists and religious counselors who can support you during your time of mourning.
Other Articles by Pat Dyson
Prayer for Families Expecting a Rainbow Baby After a Pregnancy Loss or Baby Loss
Copyright Pat Butler Dyson 2022. All rights reserved.
