She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me.She was building a sand castle or something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
" Hello," she said...........I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child..."I'm building, " she said....."I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring......."Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of the sand."That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes as a sandpiper glided by. "Thats a JOY,"the child said....."It's a what?"........It's a JOY. My momma says sandpipers come to bring us joy.
The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-by joy, I muttered to myself, Hello-pain, and turned and walked on. I was so depressed, my life seemed completely out of balance.
"What's your name?" ..she wouldn't give up........"Robert Peterson."
"Mine's Wendy...I'm six".........Hi Wendy....she giggled
In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle followed me............"Come again, Mr. P. "she called." " We will have another happy day."
After a few days of a group of unruly boy scouts, PTA meetings,a very ill mother and 10 day without any pills( I was once and for all going to quit) I decided i needed a SANDPIPER. The ever-changing balm of the sea shore awaited me. The breeze was chilly but I strode along, trying not to think about the pills and to recapture the serenity I needed.
"Hello, MR. P." she said. Do you want to play?"..What did you have in mind?" I asked with a twinge of annoyance........"I don't know, you pick"
"How about charades? I asked sarcastically. ..Her little laughter burst forth again and said "I don't know what that game is"....."Then let's just walk. Looking at her I noticed the delicate fairness of her face. "Where do you live?" I asked
" over there. " she pointed toward a row of summer cottages.
Strange, I thought, in the winter......Where do you go to school?...."I don't go to school, Mommy says we are on vacation." She chatted little girl things as we strode up the beach, but my mind was on other things.When i left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day. I even felt better, I smiled at her and went home.
Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in NO mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt like demanding she keep her child at home.
"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me,"I'd rather be alone today," She seemed unusually pale and out of breath............."Why" she asked..............I turned to her and shouted,"BECAUSE MY MOTHER DIED!" and thought, My God, why was I saying this to a little child?..........Oh, she said quietly, " then this is a bad day"............yes, I said "and yesterday and the day before and ----OH, GO AWAY!........................."Did it hurt?", she asked....."Did what hurt? I was exasperated with her, with myself.................."When she died?"
OF COURSE IT HURT!", I snapped .misunderstanding ,wrapped up in myself, I strode off.
A month or so after that day, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn looking young woman with honey - colored hair opened the door.
"Hello, I am Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and wondered wher she was."
"Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much. I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please accept my appologies."
"Not at all---she's a delightful child. I said, suddenly realizing that I meant what I said.
"Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson.She had leukemia. Maybe she didn't tell you."....................Struck dumb, I grabed for a chair. I had to catch my breath........................"She loved this beach so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.She seemed so much better here and had alot of what she called happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly.."She left something for you...if only I can find it." Could you wait a moment while I look?"
I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely young woman. She handed me a smeared envelope with "MR.P" printed in bold childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues---a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed
A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY
Tears welled up in my eyes and a heart that had almost forgotton to love, opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I am so sorry..I am so sorry, I muttered over and over. This precious little picture is framed and now hangs in his study. Six words--one for each year of her life--that speaks to him of harmony, courage and undemanding love. This little girl taught him the gift of love and filling the void or the HOLE that you feel in your life.
This true story happened over 20 years ago. and changed Robert Petersons life forever. Robert never again touched another pill and he realized that everyday traumas can make us lose focus about what is truly important .
I wish a sandpiper for all of you and also for the person who feels a HOLE in her life now that the pills are out..........................Diane
wow diane that was awesome!! thank you
carol
carol
thanks, diane, I think I will go look for some sandpipers...
kerry
kerry
Diane
Oh my!!! That story made me cry. You know we always say someone out there has it worse but as soon as we say it we move on and begin to refocus on our worries. I will remember that story forever and thank you for bringing me a sandpiper God Bless
Ro
Oh my!!! That story made me cry. You know we always say someone out there has it worse but as soon as we say it we move on and begin to refocus on our worries. I will remember that story forever and thank you for bringing me a sandpiper God Bless
Ro
Here's another tear jerker.......
F A M I L Y
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."
FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in
a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.
Stop guys your killing me lol. But thanks we all need to hear that and remember it
Ro
Ro
Carol,
Thats a story that my father should have read 38 years ago. I never understood how he could be sooo polite to strangers and friends but the complete opposite to family.
Best Regards,
Tom
Thats a story that my father should have read 38 years ago. I never understood how he could be sooo polite to strangers and friends but the complete opposite to family.
Best Regards,
Tom
tom, we have something in common. but you know, when he died, i promised to focus on the good and diminish the rough parts of him. and i've made a conscious decision to forgive him. not in a general way, but very specifically. and now i can smile a lot easier -- and i still hug my children -- all 3 are in their twenties -- every time i see them and every time i leave them. i remember.
Never go a day without saying "I Love You" to someone
Love ya all Ro
Love ya all Ro
The story of Erin Allen is well worth a read...........
www.heroinalert.org/
www.heroinalert.org/
