Handmade Quilt & Hand-Me-Downs
by Ashley Weeks Cart
Sander is modeling his beautiful new quilt courtesy of a very thoughtful and loving new friend. The creator of this generous handmade gift and I have connected recently over our experiences with loss, and it has been such a silver-lining to make new and wonderful friendships in the face of such an ugly tragedy. And this quilt is such a stunning example of that beauty in the face of sorrow. As she said so aptly, there’s something different about sharing with someone who has empathy rather than sympathy.
In a similar vein, we’ve received so many generous hand-me-downs from friends since Sander’s arrival, but I was particularly moved when we were given a bag full of beautiful baby clothes by a family in our community who’d heard about my mom’s passing. While we’d never met, she thought I might be in need of some boy clothes, and offered up pieces that included items her own mother had purchased for her sons.
The generosity and thoughtfulness of our small town community has been breathtaking in its depth. And I am forever grateful to be on the receiving end of such love and support.
