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God Is With MeA Guided Workbook for Children After Experiencing a Flood

This resource was created with love and prayers for the peopleof Western North Carolina by Rachel Doboney Benton and Angela Roberson, West Market Street United Methodist Church, 2024.

A Note to CaregiversA spiritual workbook may feel like a luxury right now as you navigate thetrauma of all that has been experienced and lost. It is our hope that thisbook will be a resource as your children attempt to process thiscatastrophic event alongside their grown-ups who are also processing. This book can be used in whatever order you feel is right for your childand at whatever pace you have room for. Younger children may needhelp with the writing while older children may want some privacy towrite authentically. We hope in all the chaos that this book will offer asacred moment to pause and be present with children as they adjust toa new normal - whatever that means for you. We hope you may also find some comfort in the pages of this book. Theprayer below is one just for you. We are praying it with you and for you:O God of all Creation,We need your gentleness.Help us to be gentle with ourselves and with one another.O Merciful God, our bodies are holding the tension of thousands ofworst nightmares; Help us remember to breathe.Father, help us to say it out loud when we don’t know what to do.Jesus, help us to draw near to one another in community as we live outthis experience together and with you.Holy Spirit, guide us as we make hard decisions and as we adapt tothis new way of life.O God of Resurrection, help us to remember that you are with us evenwhen our hearts are broken, our souls are burdened, our minds arestressed, and our strength has reached its limits. We cling to the promise that love always has the last word. May it be so, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.In Christ, Rachel & Angela

Taking a Deep BreathSometimes when a disaster happens, we can feel out of control andoverwhelmed. Our bodies might feel restless and hyper, we mightwant to stay extra-close to our families or have trouble sleeping, wemight feel worried and afraid, or we might have other big emotions. To be kind and gentle to ourselves (something God wants very much forus!), it can help to take a moment to slow down and take a deep breath.Try using this breath prayer or tracing prayer to guide you. Breath Prayer Tracing PrayerGod is as near to us as ourvery breath! A breathprayer is simply a shortprayer we can say silentlyor aloud as we breathe inand out.Comfort us. Fill us withyour love.InhaleExhaleWith your finger, slowly trace theoutline of the cross. Pray: “Jesusis with me.” Say it as many timesas you’d like, letting the wordsbring you near to God.

CONFUSEDEXCITEDLONELYFRUSTRATEDAMAZEDAFRAIDHOPEFULWORRIEDBRAVEDear God, during the storm, I felt...SAD HAPPYANGRYThank you for being with me nomatter what. Please _______________________________________.AMEN.TIREDPROUDCALMCircle your feelings below.When you walk through deep waters, I will be with you. - Isaiah 43:2

Lots of people have had their lives changed by the flood. Who are you especially thinking of or worrying about? Write their names in the shapes. They could be people or pets or somethingvery dear to you. As you do, remember God cares for all of creation. Then, write a name for God in the cross. Draw lines between the cross andeach name as a reminder that God is very near and will never leave them.

In the flood, awful things happened. The Psalms are prayer-songs that tell God the truth about feelings. Some Psalms are prayer-songs of lament. Lament helps us talk aboutwhat hurts our hearts and what makes us sad and angry.God, listen to my prayer.Do not turn awaywhen I ask you to help me.Listen carefully and answer me.I am very upset because of all my troubles.They are too many for me. I am shaking with fear! My troubles are too much for me. So I say, ‘If I had wings to fly like a dove,I would fly away to a safe place.I would hurry to my place of escape,far away from the wind and storm.This is space for you to share what’s made you sad and mad. You can share withwords or pictures about what’s been hard, what you miss, and how you’re feeling.

During the flood, when have you seen God’s love?Sometimes we see God’s love when people help us, when they are kind,when they give us a hug, when they say an encouraging word, or when they share something they have.Draw a picture and mark where you saw God’s love with hearts._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

During the flood, who has shared God’s love with you?Sometimes we feel God’s love in people who are helpers. Who has helped you?Draw a picture and mark hearts on who shared God’s love with you.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

During the flood, who have you shared God’s love with?In this hard time, people are seeing God’s love in you through your tears,your smiles, your hugs, your helping hands, your stories, and more.Draw a picture and mark hearts on the ways you shared God’s love.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Story about JesusSometimes after a disaster, it can feel like we’ve lost a lot and there’snothing left. It can be hard to be hopeful. Did you know that Jesus did some amazing things with just a little when it seemed like there wasn’t going to be enough?Color the picture as you read this story from John 6. One day, when Jesus wasteaching to a crowd of people,the disciples realized the peopleneeded something to eat. A little boy shared 5 loaves and 2fish and it was enough for over5,000 people! There were evenleftovers!In these moments where it might not seem like there is enough, knowthat there are people who follow God who are going to share whatthey have, and somehow, with Jesus’ help, it is going to be more thanwe ever thought it could be.Write/draw about a timewhere there wasn’tenough food or water, orwhen you’ve beensurprised by how peoplehave shared what theyhad with you.

My Flood StoryThese pages are to help you tell your story so that some day, you will remember all that happened.There was a hurricane that traveled to where I live in _____________________ and thathurricane was named _____________________. A hurricane is a big storm that brings alot of wind and rain. In this storm, there was too much rain and that made a lot of mud and alot of flood. During our mud and flood, I was _____________ years old.God remembers each and every moment, too.Remembering What Happened:Where were you during the flood? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Did you have to leave your house? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________If you had to leave your house, what did you bring with you? _________________________________________________________________________________________Is there anything you wish you could have brought with you? ________________________________________________________________________________________If you didn’t have to leave your house, did you have friends or family that did? ___________________________________________________________________________Who was with you during the flood? ________________________________________ Who is with you now? __________________________________________________

My Flood StoryPsalm 56:8 reminds us, “You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.”What is the scariest thing you saw during the flood? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When did you feel the most sad during the flood?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What was something that happened that made you feel hopeful? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What is something you wish you could forget about the flood? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What is something you hope you never forget about the flood? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Holding the hard and the good togetherWhen we tell our flood story, it helps us remember all the hard things thathave happened. It also helps us remember there were good things, too. Finding the good moments in all the hard moments help us to remember thatGod is with us. So even when we are sad, we can remember with joy whensomething made us laugh, smile, or feel safe!Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth!Sing to the Lord! Bless his name!Tell the good news of his saving workevery single day!You might notice some ofthe grown-ups around youare feeling sad or mad orstressed and might not bequite like themselves. Even though hard thingsare happening all aroundyou, God still wants you tobe you (and your grown-updoes, too!). When you feellike it, it’s okay to laugh,dance, play, and sing!Draw yourself doing one of your favorite things.

CONFUSEDEXCITEDLONELYFRUSTRATEDAMAZEDAFRAIDHOPEFULWORRIEDBRAVEDear God, now I’m feeling...SAD HAPPYANGRYHelp me to see and feel your lovearound me, even when it is hard. Help me to ________________________________________.AMEN.TIREDPROUDCALMCircle your feelings below.I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not thepresent or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate usfrom God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord! - Romans 8:38-39

God promises toalways be with us.

Additional ResourcesFor a more comprehensive, trauma-based, guided workbook,consider these printable options:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268502836_My_Flood_Story_A_guided_activity_workbook_for_children_families_caregivers_teachers_and_therapistshttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/5449b8f8e4b07f67352573bb/t/5b56987d562fa765b7592ace/1532401814659/StormFloodColoringBookParentGuide.pdfFor a guide to use with younger children, visit:https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SupportAfterEmergency_Printable_FamilyGuide.pdfFor Parent Tips for Helping Children after Disasters, visit:https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/disasters/flood-resourceshttps://cldisasterrelief.org/resources/5-essential-needs/