My husband Matt was a teacher and frequently received sweet tokens from his students. He would often pass these along to me when he knew it would bring me joy. Coffee brings me joy.
Months after Matt died, I found this $5 gift card in a drawer. Seeing his handwriting undid me. He wrote so infrequently that I don’t come across his blocky, all-caps, engineering script often, but when I do…
One day I took it to a Starbucks, not sure that it still had any monetary value. When the cashier asked if I would like to keep the card (after spending), I immediately said yes and told her that it had been a gift from my late husband. This sweet girl gave me back my card with a cake pop. I reload this card to use for every Starbucks purchase. It brings me double joy to enjoy a coffee and remember my thoughtful husband.
Lessons here:
-No thoughtful gift is too small .
-Offering a small token to a grieving person (maybe especially when they’re total strangers) has lasting meaning.
-Allow yourself to feel the feels when something stirs up strong emotions.
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