This story has been sent to be several times. I always enjoy it as it is a good reminder for me. I hope you do too.
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 sand.”
That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.
A sandpiper glided by.
“That’s a joy,” the child said.
“It’s a what?”
“It’s a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy.”
The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to myself, hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life seemed completely out of balance.
“What’s your name?” She wouldn’t give up.
“Robert,” I answered. “I’m Robert Peterson.”
“Mine’s Sandy… I’m six.”
“Hi, Sandy.”
She giggled. “You’re funny,” she said.
In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle followed me.
“Come again, Mr. P,” she called. “We’ll have another happy day.”
The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my coat.
The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was chilly but I strode along, trying 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 say.” “How about charades?” I asked sarcastically.
The tinkling laughter burst forth again. “I don’t know what that 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 winter.
“Where do you go to school?”
“I don’t go to school. Mommy says we’re on vacation”
She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was on other things. When I left for home, Sandy said it had been a happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.
Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in no mood to even greet Sandy. 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 Sandy 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 inquired.
“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, 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 said, “I’m Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and wondered where she was.”
“Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Sandy spoke of you so much. I’m afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please, accept my apologies.”
“Not at all! She’s a delightful child.” I said, suddenly realizing that I meant what I had just said.
“Sandy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia. Maybe she didn’t tell you.”
Struck dumb, I groped 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 a lot of what she called happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly…” Her voice faltered, “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 forgotten to love opened wide. I took Sandy’s mother in my arms. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” I uttered over and over, and we wept together. The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words — one for each year of her life — that speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love.
A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand — who taught me the gift of love.
NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It happened over 20 years ago and the incident changed his life forever. It serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other. The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.
Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas can make us lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a momentary setback or crisis.
This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means, take a moment… even if it is only ten seconds, to stop and smell the roses.
This comes from someone’s heart, and is read by many and now I share it with you…
May God Bless everyone who receives this! There are NO coincidences!
Everything that happens to us happens for a reason. Never brush aside anyone as insignificant. Who knows what they can teach us?
I wish for you, a sandpiper.
Belinda Cunningham says
Sue
This is a tear jerker and as i wipe away my tears I vow to take more time to appreciate what i have right now in my life and not be wishing it away. I wish you back a sandpiper. Went for a stroll on the beach yesterday with my wonderful man a perfect day for mothers day with both my mother and daughter overseas.
.-= Belinda Cunningham´s last blog ..Money Management Secret to Wealth: Bring in more than you spend =-.
Sue says
Hi Belinda
Yes it is a tear jerker for sure.
Your mothers day sounds wonderful. I too had the day with my husband and we had a lovely day. My mother is in Perth and my daughter in Melbourne. My dog is here though :-).
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Sue says
Thank you for your lovely feedback. I appreciate it. I aim to add value and help people with my blog. Thank you.
Sue
Sue says
Thank you for your feedback and I am glad you enjoyed my post.
Sue
Diani beach says
What a hilarious story! I love it! I had goosebumps by reading. People should appreciate what they have. The simple things are those which bring happiness. We should learn from kids their way of joy.
Sue Price says
Hi July
Wow that was one of the first posts on my blog. I am curious as to how you found it?
I too love the story and yes we should all appreciate what we have. Kids can teach us so much – I agree with you.
Thanks for finding me and for your comment.
Sue
Diani Beach says
Sunny greetings from Diani beach Sue! Thank you very much for your reply. My name is July:-) I have no idea how to change it there 🙂 I am not good in web things:-) I was actually searching in google for Robert Petreson as I loved his book Answers Within and came up your lovely post:-) I hope there will be many more:-)
Have a nice day Sue!
July Ronder
Sue Price says
Hi July
I have changed your name on the original comment – so all good now 🙂
You have a great day and year ahead. Thanks for fining me here July.
Sue
Valentine Day UK says
Hey Sue… when I started reading I thought that this narration is like as others one, but after recording four-five lines I enjoyed it.. Yeah, I can say that this story touches my heart and makes me sad also because I don’t want the end of this story. Thanks for sharing this story with us.
Sue Price says
Thanks for your comment here. I do not know your name.
It is a touching story. Wow I shared that years back when I first started this blog I am surprised you found it 🙂
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Sue