[00:05.53]“Hi, Mommy, what are you doing?” asked Susie.
[00:10.00]“I’m making a casserole for Mrs. Smith next door,” said her mother.
[00:14.57]“Why?” asked Susie, who was only six years old.
[00:18.27]“Because Mrs. Smith is very sad; she lost her daughter and she has a broken heart.
[00:23.61]We need to take care of her for a little while.”
[00:26.01]“Why, Mommy?”
[00:27.64]“You see, Susie, when someone is very, very sad, they have trouble doing the little things like making dinner or other chores.
[00:36.24]Because we’re part of a community and Mrs. Smith is our neighbor, we need to do some things to help her.
[00:42.34]Mrs. Smith won’t ever be able to talk with her daughter or hug her or do all those wonderful things that mommies and daughters do together.
[00:50.62]You are a very smart girl, Susie; maybe you’ll think of some way to help take care of Mrs. Smith.”
[00:56.93]Susie thought seriously about this challenge and how she could do her part in caring for Mrs. Smith.
[01:03.04]A few minutes later, Susie knocked on her door.
[01:06.08]After a few moments, Mrs. Smith answered the knock with a “Hi, Susie.”
[01:11.41]Susie noticed that Mrs. Smith didn’t have that familiar musical quality about her voice when she greeted someone.
[01:18.17]Mrs. Smith also looked as though she might have been crying because her eyes were watery and swollen.
[01:23.39]“What can I do for you, Susie?” asked Mrs. Smith.
[01:27.32]“My mommy says that you lost your daughter and you’re very, very sad with a broken heart.”
[01:33.53]Susie held her hand out shyly.
[01:36.57]In it was a Band-Aid. “This is for your broken heart.”
[01:40.38]Mrs. Smith gasped, choking back her tears.
[01:44.09]She knelt down and hugged Susie.
[01:46.15]Through her tears she said, “Thank you, darling girl, this will help a lot.”
[01:51.49]Mrs. Smith accepted Susie’s act of kindness and took it one step further.
[01:56.61]She purchased a small key ring with a plexiglass picture frame
[02:00.77]— the ones designed to carry keys and proudly display a family portrait at the same time.
[02:05.91]Mrs. Smith placed Susie’s Band-Aid in the frame to remind herself to heal a little every time she sees it.
[02:12.80]She wisely knows that healing takes time and support.
[02:16.52]It has become her symbol for healing, while not forgetting the joy and love she experienced with her daughter.
