The Lord loves us and wants to give us the happiness of heaven after a full life here on earth. So we may wonder why the Lord allows illnesses and tragedies that sometimes take children to the spiritual world prematurely. In His Providence, the Lord foresees and arranges all things, but some things are of His will and others He permits to happen for the sake of human freedom. It is not His will that "any of these little ones should perish." But we are reassured that although the Lord doesn't will illness and other tragedies, He brings good from everything that happens, even if we can't see it at the time.

When tragedy strikes, it can be comforting to reflect on the beautiful teachings about children in heaven. As adults, we have the freedom to choose between heaven and hell. Our choices in this life create a home in the spiritual world where we will live to eternity. But this decision cannot be made before adulthood, so children who die are taken directly to heaven. They are lovingly cared for by angel mothers and taught in wonderful ways about their heavenly Father and how to live a good life. These children grow up in heaven and become angels themselves, finding a partner to marry and performing special uses.

We hope that the materials on this month's website will help you to feel how much the Lord loves all of His children and to see how He specifically cares for those who make the transition to the spiritual world at a young age. You might want to start by reading the quotes From the Word. "The Lord's Love for Children" is a lovely talk for families, "Children in Heaven" offers an overview of New Church teachings, and "When a Child Dies" provides some comforting thoughts for those who are grieving. You might also enjoy the prayers, songs, and stories. A wealth of activities is provided in the Overview of Family Projects and Activities and the Sunday School Lessons.