On Mortality

I'm not even sure how this started.

But every once in a while now, J will turn to me, in all seriousness, and ask, "Mom, are you going to die?"

Now, I have always thought that I should be honest with my children. I want them to always trust me, and so I try not to say or do anything that could betray that trust.

But this question...

The first time he asked this, I told him that although I'd die one day, it wouldn't be for a long time (God willing), and even then, we'd still see each other in heaven. Not good enough for him! Tears! I think it's too big for him to understand.

Last night, he asked THE QUESTION again. And once again, he started tearing up! He worried about if I was going to die, and if he was going to have new mommy... ("But I don't want new mommy... Mom, are you going to die??") I told him that he shouldn't worry about it, and that he would always be taken care of. It wasn't the answer he wanted to hear: it wasn't enough.

How to answer him? On the one hand, I certainly don't want to lie to him. On the other hand, he is so sensitive that telling him the truth upsets him.

I am stumped. And reminded of how much we need God's wisdom!