Loss And Hope – A Christian Children’s Story

Today I’m sharing a short Christian Children’s Story about a little girl called Alice, who needed to learn to console her friend, Joanna when she experienced the loss of a family member. In this story, Alice learnt how to bring Joanna true hope by talking to her about Jesus and Heaven.

The teaching points in this story are as follows:

– Death is a natural part of life in this broken world (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

– God is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18)

– For those who accept God’s salvation through Jesus there is the hope of eternal joy where there will be no weeping or sorrow (Romans 8:18, Revelation 21:4)

– A real friend sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)

This Christian Children’s Story is ideal for church Sunday School or for family devotions. If you’d like the PDF version click below.

Loss and Hope – PDF Version

Loss And Hope – A Christian Children’s Story

Alice sat down on the grass in the garden. She smiled as she looked at the cloth. Teacups, dainty biscuits and sandwiches were all laid out nicely. Just as she was about to eat, Alice heard a noise. It was the gate closing.

She looked up and she saw her friend, Joanna.

– Joanna, come and have a tea party with me – she called.

But as Joanna walked towards her, Alice saw that her friend had tears in her eyes.

– I’m sorry, Alice. I can’t. 

– What’s the matter?

– I just found out that my great-aunt Mary died. – said Joanna, tears falling down her cheeks.

Alice got up and hugged her friend.

– I’m sorry. Why don’t you have some tea? – Alice tried to think what her mummy usually said when she was sad – Come on, let’s talk about it.

– She was my favourite aunt. She gave me toys every Christmas and when we visited her she did gardening with us, and we baked cookies together.

– I’m sorry – said Alice again simply – Maybe you’ll see her in Heaven.

– That’s what mummy says.

– Do you want some tea? Some biscuits?

– No, thanks. – said Joanna still looking sad.

– Do you want to play something else? – said Alice

– No.

Alice sighed. She tried again. She offered different activities, but Joanna wasn’t interested in any. So, Alice decided to tell her friend the story of “The Elves and the Shoemaker”. When she had finished, she looked up at Joanna and saw that she was looking absent-mindedly into the distance.

– You know – said Joanna – this was the aunt that gave me that really cool watch at Christmas.

– That’s nice. – said Alice – What about the story? It was funny, wasn’t it? The shoemaker had no idea who was making the shoes!

– Yeah… But then it was also this aunt who told me about Jesus. She used to tell me all sorts of Bible stories.

– Talking of stories, why do you think the elves didn’t have nice shoes? They knew how to make them!

– I don’t know. My aunt Mary used to read to me too.

Alice sighed again. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t cheer up Joanna or take her mind off her aunt. 

Later that evening when she was in bed, she told her mum about Joanna.

– I tried to make her feel better, mummy, but all she did was talk about her aunt. She didn’t want to play anything and she didn’t even listen to the story I read to her.

– I know you were trying to help sweetie, but you know, Joanna is going through a loss. The best thing you can do is just be there and listen to her.

– Ok, I’ll try mummy.

So the next day, when Alice saw Joanna at the school playground, she decided not to change the subject when Joanna started crying and talking about her aunt again.

– I’m so sad, Alice. I don’t know what to do.

– It’s ok. You can tell me.

And from then on, Alice listened to Joanna whenever she needed to talk about her aunt, and she found that instead of simply telling Joana made-up stories, Joanna was happier listening to Alice talking about Heaven and Jesus.

– You know, Alice – said Joanna one afternoon a few weeks later. – You’re my best friend. Thank you for listening to me, and teaching me things about Jesus. It really helps.

Alice smiled. This was what friendship looked like. Being friends in the good times and the bad times. And telling friends about Jesus.

Story written by: Anna Hawkes Cabral

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