Today I read a message that made my heart heavy and brought back a flood of cherished memories.
Throughout our lives we meet people who leave a lasting impression. Some—like my mother—were constants, present for many years and woven into countless memories. Others arrive briefly, yet their influence endures for decades. Their words or kindness stay with you in ways you might not expect.
One such person in my life was a sweet woman named Sharon. I can still picture sitting with her one evening after dinner, listening to a conversation that touched me deeply. Her words felt carefully chosen, the kind of wisdom that comes from a life lived close to faith and compassion. She carried the love of Jesus in the way she spoke and cared for people around her.
Sharon is now gravely ill and spending her final day at home before entering hospice. My heart aches as I think of her and the quiet, steady kindness she shared. As I reflected, I remembered a simple but treasured gift she once gave me: a handwritten note containing quotes we had discussed. That note has lingered in my heart for years.
I have searched for the original several times and, oddly, it remains misplaced for now. Thankfully, I preserved the memory of it in a blog entry I wrote years ago—so the words and the story are not lost.
Below is the story I wrote then, with the same gratitude for the friendship and encouragement she offered.
***
I remember watching a home decor segment once where Nate Berkus displayed a framed handwritten note he had received from Oprah. His message was simple: surround yourself with meaningful items that tell your story and inspire you. I don’t have anything famous on my wall, but I do have a note that inspires me every day. It was written by Sharon Hanson, who stayed as a guest in the cottage beside our house one summer. We had a few gentle conversations that felt like gifts.
Before she left, Sharon handed me a small notepaper with several quotes from a book we had discussed. For years that piece of paper lived on my refrigerator, a quiet reminder of that evening and of the friendship that brief season brought.
The other day I found myself pondering those words again and decided the note deserved a more prominent place than the refrigerator. I took a simple clearance frame I’d recently bought and placed the original page inside. I wanted the real, textured paper and the genuine ink of Sharon’s handwriting to remain visible—its authenticity is part of its power.
I hung the framed note beside my bedside lamp. Seeing it each evening and morning reminds me not only of the wisdom of the words but of the person who shared them. Small tokens like this keep an ordinary conversation alive and encourage me to live with the same generous spirit.
I could have photocopied the note to make it fit neatly, but I wanted the original—edges, texture, and all. The handwriting, the slight imperfection of the paper, and the ink’s flow bring me back to that camp dining table where she encouraged my heart. Sharon helped me feel cared for, and she challenged me to extend that care to others. That legacy, held in a few lines of script, continues to influence how I show up for people.
The passage Sharon transcribed for me reads:
Someone once said, “When you love, give it everything you’ve got, and when you’ve reached your limit, give it more and forget the pain of it, because as you face your death it is only the love you have given and received which will count. All the rest—the accomplishments and struggles, the fights—will be forgotten in your reflection, and if you have loved well, then it will have been worth it, and the joy of it will last you through the end.” “At the moment of death, we will not be judged by the amount of work we have done but by the weight of love we have put into our work.” – Mother Teresa (Taken from the book “Lifegiving” by Tammy Maltley)
Those words are a gentle but powerful reminder of what truly matters: love given freely and received gratefully. For me, the note is both a spiritual compass and a portrait of a woman who chose love repeatedly in small, everyday ways.
My thoughts and prayers are with Sharon and her family in this tender season. Thank you, Sharon, for your quiet generosity and the way you shaped my life. I am living proof of how a single conversation and a simple handwritten message can change a heart and keep inspiring years later.
More Wall Decor Ideas
- Free fall printables you can print at home — quick seasonal art to display
- Christmas canvas art with warm illumination — festive decor that feels cozy
- Easy book page wall art — a simple, charming project to personalize your space