Pennies From Heaven

I was at my son's basketball game sitting next to one of the mothers of the team. She and I were mere acquaintances but usually sat together cheering on our boys. I looked over at her during the game to high five her as her son scored and to my dismay she was sobbing. I asked her if I could be of any help and she escorted me outside to the parking lot. She told me it was her infant daughter's birthday but I knew only of her two teenage children. I listened further and she unfolded a story of a child her and her husband lost at infancy. Through many tears from the both of us she continued. Apparently, this child was born through a most difficult birth but nevertheless came into the world. Unfortunately at that time, her husband was on an Olympic soccer team touring other countries when she went into labor and she and her family were unsuccessful in trying to reach him. Tragically, a few days later, her child was found turning blue on her small blanket she had laid her on. She rushed her to the hospital still feverishly trying to reach her husband. Their baby died without him ever laying eyes on her. He was finally reached only to return home to their baby's funeral. By this time, we both were weeping hysterically but returned to the game nonetheless. After the game, we said our goodbyes, and I went on my way. I was so taken back by this news and told my husband the sad story. I couldn't shake this information she had entrusted me with and then decided I needed to give her something more than the shoulder I had given earlier. I went to Target looking for a gift of sorts to try to brighten up her day. A strange and overwhelming feeling came over me as I shopped and felt I was being led to certain items in the store. I picked up a card that listed the things that I thought about her as a friend. I grabbed a gift bag and was lured to the candle section. I picked up a nice pumpkin spice candle and put it in my cart. I then noticed a nearby display of Ghirardelli chocolate bags and got one of those. After my purchase, I went home to put it all together. Ironically at that time, I happened to be collecting unusual lighters and thought I would add a few of the little purse ones to light the candle with. At the last minute, I went into my bedroom and thought for some reason that a handful of pennies would mean something to her so in they went. I took my gift to her house, rang the bell; but no answer. I left the gift on the doorstep and proceeded home. About an hour later, I started receiving text messages from her asking me how I knew. In her text, she told me that the bag couldn't have been more perfect; the words in the card especially. It turns out that she had a shrine made for her little angel in her bedroom with cards and candles; pumpkin spice being her favorite. She just so happened to be a purse maker so the purse lighter was right on. Although she's allergic to chocolate, when she does nibble its Ghirardelli she goes for. Then she said the most amazing thing to me that still sends chills up my spine. Since her daughter's passing, every time her other two children find a penny on the ground, she tells them to pick it up for its from their little sister in Heaven. February 17, 2016 would have been her 17th birthday and so I posted and dedicated the song "Pennies from Heaven" on my dear and closest friend's Facebook in memory of our little Angel. I think we all know who my little angelic guide was, Don't we!