The art project that stopped me in my tracks.
/Sometimes things happen to me that stops me in my tracks and I question, "Did that just happen?"
Aiden is currently studying the theme HOME in pre-school. I dropped him off at school this morning and found a project he had completed at school in his cubbie. He was tasked to cut and paste pictures from magazines that represented who lived in his home.
1. Latin mom ✔️
2. Dark haired boy who obviously loves arts and crafts - hence the smock ✔️
3. A white dad (I'm confused why he's holding corn. Maybe Aiden is saluting Josh's Nebraska heritage?)
Aiden's teacher saw me observing the project and asked, "Is there a baby in the home?" Taken aback I answered, "Absolutely not!" It wasn't until that moment that I even realized there was a cut out of a baby pasted right next to the mother figure. This cut out was huge, how did I miss it?
His teacher went on to explain Aiden was adamant about including a baby, specifically a baby girl, in the picture.
It hit me like a ton of bricks. Is he really understanding the countless stories I've shared with him about his 12 brothers and sisters in heaven? Does he really remember seeing me cry as I wrote my blog post about my daughter, his sister, who would be in kindergarten this year?
I started getting teary-eyed and explained to his teacher that I've experienced many miscarriages and that perhaps Aiden was referring to those babies who are part of our family in heaven.
Then the most beautiful thing happened. Aiden's teacher and I had a short, yet very vulnerable, conversation about loss. She told me about her experience with losing a child in the womb. We began to empathize with one another over the difficulty of the journey. My heart hurt for her. Her heart hurt for me. It was a special moment that I couldn't have created even if I tired.
I didn't create it, God did. He knew I needed an insight into Aiden's sympathetic mind and He knew the teacher needed an opportunity to reflect and feel supported. We both needed a moment to dialogue and connect with someone who finds themselves in the world of losing a child.
I got in the car and started weeping. My tears were a mixture of sadness for the teacher but also at amazement in seeing God's work. Proof you can experience JOY in the midst of grief.