it’s the little things

Sometimes it’s the smallest acts in life that mean the most. For me, it was yesterday morning, as I was looking out my front window. Kate and her friend were playing with the window markers this weekend, and as I was admiring their brightly colored artwork (and slightly dreading the clean-up of said windows), I saw this.

I assumed Kate wrote it because she almost always includes Jackson when she’s writing about the family. But I was a little surprised when I asked her, and she said, “No, Addie did.”

Kate’s sweet friend, who barely knew Jackson, included him in their window art. When I saw this, my heart melted. Addie is in our home a lot. Kate would tell you she is one of her best friends. We always talk about Jackson and pictures of him fill our walls. It was obvious to her eight-year-old heart that he’s still a very important part of our family, and she included him. She included him! I wish I could adequately describe how that makes me feel.

“The mention of my child’s name may bring tears to my eyes, but it never fails to bring music to my ears. If you are really my friend, let me hear the beautiful music of his name. It soothes my broken heart and sings to my soul.”   – sayinggoodbye.org

I think most parents who have lost a child would tell you that they love hearing and seeing their child’s name. It means our child is remembered. Even though they aren’t here, someone is still thinking of them. They are not forgotten. I know Jackson will always be remembered among my family and close friends, but it’s these moments when a little girl simply writes his name on a window that means the most.