It was just 3 months after my husband died, when I took my girls on a plane ride from Boston to London to go to a friend’s wedding.
This was our first adventure after he had died.
The girls were only 4 and 6 at the time, but I wanted to go to the wedding and I wanted them to go and have an experience outside of the loss.
We packed our bags and with heavy hearts we went to the airport.
You know you doubt yourself so much in those early days.
You wonder should I be getting on this plane and going so far away?
Should I spend the money?
Am I strong enough to go?
I was having those doubts, but I kept packing and I kept moving forward with my decision.
The girls were excited but I was so worried about such a long flight for them.
We got to the airport, checked in and sat at the café to get them a snack.
All of a sudden two tall men in British Airways uniforms came and asked my name.
They introduced themselves to me, and told us they were from our flight and asked if we could go with them for a special surprise.
They took us to a special lounge and then we were escorted to First Class.
I was so shocked I didn’t know what could possibly be happening.
As we sat on our big seats on First Class, the flight attendant came and told me that a very good friend of mine, who worked for the airline, wrote them a long letter about what had just happened in our lives and asked them if they would let us fly to London First class.
I have no words to describe to you how it felt to receive a blessing, a gift during such a difficult time in our lives.
I cried. I laughed.
And then I looked at the girls having so much fun in their seats/beds in First class.
In that moment there was no pain, just giggles and miracles.
I will never forget that flight, because that was when I started to believe that if I was to take a step forward to have a small adventure again, life would find a way to give back to me.
The girls of course don’t remember the flight or the First Class experience, they have no memory of it.
But I tell them about it and how we went on an adventure on a big plane, and two angels came to get us and escort us to these big beds on the plane.
My friend who wrote the letter was my angel and even though I thanked her so much at the time she will never know how much this had meant to me.
There are no words to describe the lasting effect of someone giving to us in such a way, during such a difficult time.
So today if you know someone who just went through a terrible loss find a way to surprise them and help them step back into life even for just a few seconds.
Show them that life still loves them and wants them back even for a few moments at a time.
The girls and I took many car, train and airplane rides after that day. We had many adventures together and in each adventure there was a small miracle just like on that flight.
Remember this, when you choose life, life chooses you. (Click to Tweet!)
With wings,
Christina
Image courtesy of Peter Holme.
