Lots of people have lost a child, however, when you’re going through the loss yourself, it seems like you’re the only one in the entire world..
People don’t talk about it very much.
I get it. No one wants to talk about dead babies.
This is my life.
The good news, I have been in contact with a lot of really great women who have been supporting me through this lifelong journey. Unfortunately, they can support me because they too have lost a child.
Today I want to share with you the story about a woman that gave me a quarter.
But not just any quarter.
The day after Alexander passed away, we made our daily trip into the hospital to visit Max and Artemis.
Even after losing a child, life just continues on. So unfair.
While Ed was parking the car, I took my travel mug inside to get hot water for my tea. Something that I do every morning.
Usually, I go up to the cashier, tell her that I just got hot water and go on my merry way.
But not today.
Today there was a new girl.
She told me that my hot water would cost me 25 cents.
I didn’t have a problem with the fact that she wanted to charge me. I mean, they did have to pay for electricity to heat the water. The problem was that Ed had my wallet.
I didn’t even have 25 cents to my name.
In a daze, I told her that I would have to dump out my water.
I felt beat down.
It wasn’t just a quarter.
It was a sign of the state of my life.
I couldn’t catch a break, nothing was going right.
Nothing.
Then, the faceless woman behind me reached into her purse and put a quarter in the cashiers hand.
“I’ll pay for it” she said.
I was moved to tears.
There was no way for this woman to know the affect that her generous gift had made on my life.
Forever.
I’m not sure if she knew that her quarter was “not just a quarter” to me.
The moral of the story…
Be kind. You never know if the person you gave a quarter to is mourning the loss of a child.
Has Anyone “Given You a Quarter”?
How the Gift of a Quarter Changed My Life Forever @zoojourneys #loss http://t.co/htpk7RWYDI
— Journeys of The Zoo (@zoojourneys) April 25, 2015
Note that today is “Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day”.
I didn't know you had a blog! I love this post, it is so true. Can't wait to visit more.
First time reading this post. Powerful stuff. You are right, you never know another person's story or situation, so be kind. Always. Thanks for the reminder. (hugs)
I haven't read this post before – but it brought tears to my eyes. You are so right – sometimes it's just a whole lot more
I can so relate. Lost my first born son to SIDS 09/28/1982-05/18/1983, Not quite 6 mts young.
I love this post… I try to teach my children that while the “big things” in life are admirable and well worth the effort, it is the “little” every day things that have such power to change the world, day by day…
Elisabeth recently posted…Gratitude Project 2013 – Day 8 – Be Grateful for Children
Hello. My hopes and prayers to all that have lost a child or children. I’ve been thru miscarriages and pray that other parents don’t have to go threw that either.
I also had a day when I was at the register with my sons baby cereal and I was 85 cents short. This caring amazing lady asked the lady at the register how much I needed and paid for the difference and said “Take the cereal.” I told her “Thank you very very much.” To me this meant the world because my son now could have a breakfast for as week.
I love paying it forward and do whenever I can. Thank you for everyone that helps and pays it forward. ♥
Dear Nettie,
I am so sorry that you know the pain of losing a child.
If everyone “paid it forward” even once in a lifetime, the world would be a different place.
Besos, Sarah
Hello Sarah,
Thank you very much for your lovely reply. I also agree that it would be a more beautiful World if everyone would pay it forward.
Thoughts and Prayers from our family to yours. ♥
People have been so kind to me at certain times in
my life when I have needed kindness especially right at that time. With life experiences a person knows that there are a lot of ‘walking wounded’ out there.
I tell my adult children to be kind and gentle with people because no one knows the weight of the burden another person is carrying at that time.
Perhaps the only positive thing about personal suffering is that it does give us compassion for those who are suffering as well.
I’ve read the book: ‘When Bad Things Happen to ‘Good People’ and it stressed that life’s tragedy’s do tend to make us more compassionate with other people who are suffering and carrying heavy burdens Hugs.
Dear Elva,
I’m happy to hear that your family has experienced kindness. It’s so easy to give a smile or thank you and you never know when the person has just lost so much.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…A Balloon For Alexander #babyloss
How sweet of that lady. sorry for your loss, too.
Seems like I “find” lost items, which I always return
to their owner, hopefully. While walking our GS dog
he found a wallet in the hills, it contained lots of money and
id. My dog was on the front pg. of the local US paper, with
the Headline “Canadian women and dog” find wallet in the
desert. Thanks, for sharing your story.
Dear Dayle,
Thank you for your kind words and actions. Perhaps you found that persons life savings or, changed what they would do in the future (if they were in the same situation). At the very least, you had an impact on them.
“The life and death of each of us has an influence on others”.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Will This Barbie Meet the Same Fate?
Sarah, I can’t imagine what you went through. My mother lost a few children and I can’t imagine the pain. As I read your story it brought tears to my eyes. Small acts of kindness are important miracles. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Bless you!
Maria Medeiros recently posted…Beautiful Creations
Dear Maria,
Thank you so much for your kind words. They matter so much. I feel for your Mother.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…I Should Lie More To My Kids
Thank you for sharing this. Such a moving, heartfelt reminder to give the quarter. Always.
Dear Pam,
Thanks for reading. It’s incredible how just one quarter can change a life and so on and so on.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Death Should Come with a Manual
You are a really special, Mamma, Sarah.
I am thankful that stranger cared enough to pay for your water.
Kindness is so often brushed off… it should be the norm.
Peady recently posted…Chrysanthemum! As Fun to Spell as it is to Say. C-H-R-Y-S-A-N-T-H-E-M-U-M.
Dear Peady,
Thank you for your kind words; today and always.
People should share their kindness because it’s contagious and the world can use all it can get.
And, a quarter can change a life.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Give the Gift of Life by Becoming a Living Organ Donor
I can’t begin to understand what you are going through, I can hope that more people give out quarters though. Just to see you smile would be worth it.
Dear AlwaysARedhead,
You’re such a kind soul and I’m fortunate to have you in my life.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Give the Gift of Life by Becoming a Living Organ Donor
Bless that woman that offered a quarter. It’s so true that you never know just what even a small act of kindness can do for another person <3 I can't even begin to imagine what you were going through at that time.
Dear Brandi,
I think about her all the time and told her story 6 times this weekend alone. I don’t know if she’ll ever know how much she positively impacted my life. I hope that I can be her to someone else someday.
Besos, Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Ever Had Your Child Do Something That You Questioned Afterwards?
Sarah, I read this post and many others regarding your triplets many times. Most times i start to write and discard my comment because I really don’t know what to say
I know what I am feeling, and its sadness because I can only imagine what a loss like that would feel like, its pride in how you keep Alexander alive with your words and actions, it is a lot of awe in how amazing you are.
Those quarters you speak about…recovered/ recovering? Addict over here. If it wasn’t for a few dollars spent on me I wouldn’t be where I am today. It is only after your greatest struggles that you become aware of your greatest strengths. Stay strong and amazing ♡
Dear Aneta,
I am in tears. Not only for the loss of Alexander but your kind words. When spoken from a good place, they can never be wrong in my eyes. Even though I’ve lost a child, I never know what to say to other Mothers in a similar situation so you are not alone.
I truly believe that I am a better Mother to all three of my children because of Alexander’s death. I wish I didn’t believe it but I do. And while I would prefer kisses from him it’s not in the cards so instead, I rejoice in yet another gift that he has given me.
Besos Sarah.
Sarah recently posted…Do You Let Your Kids Talk to Strangers?
How very true.. You never know what someone else is going through and how your actions can impact them! Beautiful post!
Dear Soozle,
You’re right, you never know. You just never know.
Besos Sarah.
Sarah recently posted…Start this Fun Birthday Tradition with Your Kids!
This is such an uplifting post, that a complete stranger can help so much by merely handing over a quarter. Such a small thing to do for someone else but meaning so very much .
Dear Elizabeth,
Changed my life forever.
Besos Sarah.
Sarah recently posted…Changing the World — One Dollar a Day #1DollaraDay
Wonderful and now your generosity spreads out to others too as did that woman’s, it starts to snowball and just keeps on and on and on and ………….
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