This activity comes from Sam’s Special Book, about how Sam is very poorly and no one can make him better, so he explores ideas of what heaven might be like through the Bible verse about God preparing a place for us. It’s part of the Held in Hope series produced with the Paediatric Chaplaincy Network.
John 14:2 says: There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. (CEV)
This is a good verse to start thinking about what heaven may be like. This is something which is particularly helpful if someone has died, but doesn’t have to be saved for that. In fact, it’s probably most helpful to have helped everyone think a little about heaven before they experience bereavement.
Invite everyone to draw what they would like their room in God’s house to be like. Allow this to develop conversations about what might or might not be in heaven. Try and keep to what you know rather than what you personally believe so as to allow each person to develop their own thinking.
In the book, Sam draws pictures with his friend of rooms in God’s house, as they think about what the place God is preparing for them might be like. You could do this by drawing a large house and giving everyone a small square piece of paper to draw what their room might be like. Then invite everyone to glue their room into the house. Make sure you measure the house to make sure there’s enough room!
There are loads of other good ideas for activities to help children think about God and sickness and death in the Held in Hope books, including two pages of notes for adults with suggestions and guidelines. All the books are available here