Comfort for a 9 year old

On the eve of 9/11/01, I've been anticipating what questions I may have to answer about the War on Terror. We are having a remembrance at school in the morning. There will be prayer, a flag at half staff, and patriotic songs. I am dutifully watching (sort of) the ABC presentation of the events leading up to 9/11. My teenager/college guy is somewhere flying over the USA returning to the Golden State from a waterpolo tournament in Princeton. I'm also correcting spelling tests, drinking a lemon fizzie water, and I receive the call.

My principal has just informed me that the little brother of one of my 4th graders died today on the way to the hospital. I know he had been sick for over a week. We have prayed faithfully for his recovery. Today he stopped breathing. What will I say tomorrow to my class? How will I comfort them? What will be their questions? Will they feel abandoned by God? Will they doubt that God heard their prayers? Did I not take this precious little one's prayers seriously enough? Was I oblivious to their concern? Who knows what had happened? Have they watched their parents crying? Friday, the superintendent's 21 year old son had a massive coronary at Tulane University. A 17 year old Lodi girl is battling a rare form of leukemia. These are all young vibrant people I know. There is no sense in any of it. My mind is incredibly small and finite and I cannot find any words to say to my 4th grade as to why a 3 year old little brother would die from a respiratory infection. I will be in much prayer tonight. I know the Lord will help me and give me strength, empathy, and words. I am inadequate. My words will sound hollow and shallow and trite and thoughtless without God's Holy Spirit guinding each and every moment that I am interacting with these precious children. He has never failed me. I will depend on Him.