Annie F. Downs on What Kids Can Teach Grownups About Life and Death

What has play got to do with suffering? 

Annie F. Downs has built her career on having fun. Her New York Times bestseller titles include That Sounds Fun, Remember God, and 100 Days to Brave. Her new book for kids seems very different from the fun-loving Downs. 

Downs explains how the death of her nephew TJ led her to write a children’s book to help kids (and grownups) understand suffering and loss at the same time as the love of God. 

In this episode, Downs tells us what surprised her about how kids respond to this kind of suffering and what that taught her about getting rid of fake platitudes, about what to do when someone you love is hurting, and about how to genuinely grieve while still recognizing a world of joy, hope, and even fun.

• Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include:

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“The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producer: Clarissa MollHost: Russell MooreProducer: Leslie ThompsonAssociate Producers: McKenzie HillSenior Proucer: Matt StevensAudio engineering by Kevin MorrisVideo producer: Sam CedarTheme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton