“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14)
Venango VNA Foundation hosts several camps for grieving children throughout the year. Two camps during the summer and one camp in the fall. Hope for the Holidays is the camp we host in the fall, and this year’s camp was a huge success as we saw just over 30 children attend. Children ages range from 6-16 all coming together and sharing a single, yet heartfelt, matter… grieving the recent passing of a loved one.
As we all know, the holidays can be a difficult time for those of us who have lost loved ones, especially that first year. This is where Hope for the Holidays comes in to help guide children through the process of grief and help to understand their emotions during the holiday season. This is achieved by introducing the children to a variety of crafts, activities, lessons, and group sharing.
Hope for the Holidays started off with a craft, where children came together and each individual decorated a glass lantern to their own liking. Creatively customizing their own lanterns allows for the expression of individual emotions and memories, making the lantern a unique tribute to their loved one.
The children were then split into two groups. One group was visited by a magician who provided a series of fun magical tricks and illusions. Demonstrating that even though we may lose loved ones in our lives, they actually still remain in our hearts. The second group was introduced to two large horses who helped pull them on a sleigh ride throughout Two Mile Run Park. Helping to bring cheer and joy during a time when life may seem a bit gloomy.
Then the children all gathered together to partake in a holiday meal. But, were also introduced to the empty seat at the table, symbolizing their loved one missing from the dining table this year. A poem was read with a decorative place setting at the table:
“There’s an empty chair at the table. An empty chair is what we see. For you have gone away somewhere, to a place beyond our dreams. We’ll miss the times together, as we live our life through. But the empty chair at the table will always remind us of you. The memories of you will linger, through all the days ahead. We’ll think of our times together, and now the place where you’ve been led. Many times we’ll wish we could see you, or hear your knock at the door. But in memory we’ll never lose you, and we’ll love you now and forever more.”
We finished off the camp as the children gathered together for a time of reflection, discussion, and prayer. A discussion about the different emotions felt during the holidays in the absence of their loved one. And, that everyone’s grief looks different, never the same. Also, that grief is a never-ending process. For some it may be more intense than others, and that’s okay. Finally closing with a prayer of assurance and asking for God’s comfort and peace.
Gregory Dill
Spiritual Counselor/Chaplain