“It is difficult to accept death in this society because it is unfamiliar. In spite of the fact that is happens all the time, we never see it.” — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
One of the more unspoken facts of life is the death of a child. For generations, when children passed away — no matter the age or cause — it was wrong to talk about or even grieve the young one. But the fact is children die every day from all causes, and they are mourned just as much as a wife who loses her husband or a daughter who loses her dad.
However, it’s only been in the last few decades that it has become socially acceptable to mourn the loss of a child. No longer are parents told that they can have other children or that it’s best to not talk about the deceased.
Today, those young lives are honored, celebrated and most importantly, remembered on National Children’s Memorial Day. Held the second Sunday in December, this proclamation, signed by President William J. Clinton in 1998, validates the grief and despair felt by bereaved families each day. It also allows them to gather and share their loved ones with those who truly understand their pain and anguish.
If you lost a child or know someone who has, take time today to remember that precious life. At 7 p.m. local time, light a candle. Supporters all over the world are doing the same, creating a 24-hour wave of light that encircles the world.
