Its pretty awesome that he can read and memorizing the verses at his age. He sure sounds very bright, scripture can be though on people that don't grasp it completely heck I still have to ask for help lol. Prayer is the most powerful source of any issue and his interest in the bible is a good at his age you sound like your listening really well to him which is key to him because your showing concern to him. I'm asking some of my pastors for resourses and advice for yall i'll get back to you.
John 5:24 ESV Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Since he is into the bible stick to the story of Jesus and what eternal life means, Jesus gives many teachings of the matter but these are the main verses I've found he might can understand. (child friendly as possible) It may take time for him to gasp it but I'd also talk to his youth group leader/pastor to help them explain and teach more on the matter strictly towards him, so that what they explain he can understand whats in the bible and what it means. Also found this at lifeway.com Children and Grief - LifeWay Reader its a book that helps you explain to your kids about death. Hope any of this helps you man. God bless
Thanks. I'll check out the book. We have already been working on most those verses https://vimeo.com/140821215
I know when my kids were young and scared of thunder and asked me what it was I told them god is crying, when they asked why is god crying I told them probably because of something you did. They asked me less and less questions as they grew up and they seemed to turn out alright. Not to be light hearted about the matter but is a phase you can't control your children emotions but you can control your reaction to those feelings.
I have no problem controlling my reactions, that certainly doesn't mean I won't do what I can to help my child understand his thoughts. I understand its a phase, I also understand it is one he is struggling with and needs help in understanding.
I should have said explaining is difficult because while the lad has an understanding the logic part of the mind growth just isn't there yet. Hard for them to grasp somethings in their minds.
You know everyone is different when it comes to death... even adults. I have struggled with the subject when I was a kid and even as an adult. I understand it all and know its just a part of life but I dont like to think on it much. I dont like thinking about my loved ones passing one day tho I know they will. I also dont like to think about my own passing. Everyone is different.
Sorry to say I don't have kids so I won't pretend to know how to fix your problem. What I can say is that I had the exact same "phase" when I was little and I recall clearly being completely paranoid about my folks dying. What started it for me was me shooting a woodpecker out of one of the pecan trees in the yard. It wasn't until then that I realized the finality of the concept and that I was responsible for that creature never taking another breath and that linked my thoughts to the fragility of life. Nothing anyone said could ease my mind about it, I didn't want to go to school or leave my parents sight for fear that I may never see them alive again. I finally came to terms with the fact that we're all part of a system much like Sota's reference to the lion king circle of life post. I think that threshold of acceptance is different for everyone so I have no idea how to reach that for your boy. I think if it were my kid, I'd probably point out ashes to ashes and dust to dust and then talk about how we're all made of star dust and try to incorporate some science into it. If he thinks a lot as it sounds like he does then using some creative science may stimulate his mind to focus on a broader scope and not worry so much about the finality of death. I'd probably explain to him what I feel happens after death (whatever that is to in everyone elses opinion) that we return to everything that makes the universe and what grandness we may experience as being part of everything (<--my version) then I'd probably laugh and tell him not to worry about it that it's a long way off and he should focus on the here and now and enjoy every day as a gift of life because dwelling on death and worrying about it all the time just invites it. Time is better spent dwelling on life than death. I often wonder if kids seeing zombies and vampires so prevalent in our culture doesn't make this worse...I know I was always scared to death of zombies after seeing Night of the living dead as a kid. I was too young to realize how stupid it was to think dead people could eat you.
