Amy Beth Gardner has a gift for turning everyday moments into life lessons. Whether she’s teaching her daughters about the power of words using a tube of toothpaste or sharing the magic of Disney, Amy Beth always leaves us inspired. But her latest story? It’s one that will truly tug at your heartstrings.
Amy Beth’s journey into motherhood hasn’t been an easy one. After struggling with infertility, she and her husband decided to open their hearts and home to foster children in need. It wasn’t long before their lives changed forever.
One late night, two caseworkers arrived at their doorstep with two little girls—Breona, 9, and Bridgett, 5. That was the start of a journey filled with love, challenges, and moments of pure joy.
But even in their happy home, the past has a way of creeping in. For Breona and Bridgett, small things can sometimes trigger painful memories. One of those moments came during their first Halloween together.
“My youngest daughter was just five years old when she came to us through foster care,” Amy Beth shared. “As Halloween approached, I noticed the girls froze in fear every time I mentioned it. When I finally asked if they’d ever experienced Halloween before, their answer broke my heart.”
The girls recounted how, in the past, an adult had cruelly taken their Halloween candy, eaten it in front of them, and then forced them to eat the wrappers. It was a moment of unimaginable cruelty, and the memory still haunted them.
Determined to rewrite that experience, Amy Beth approached their first Halloween together with care. After trick-or-treating, she helped the girls carefully count and label their candy, reassuring them that it was theirs to enjoy. Night after night, they recounted the candy together, slowly building trust one sweet piece at a time.
Fast forward to today: Breona and Bridgett are thriving. But every Halloween, that haunting memory resurfaces.
Then came a moment Amy Beth will never forget.
“Last night, as I was cleaning up the kitchen, I noticed my youngest daughter digging through the pantry. She came over holding a bag of candy she had collected at a Halloween event. It was wrapped in paper, and she handed it to me as a gift.”
When Amy Beth unwrapped the bag, she found a note scrawled in her daughter’s handwriting:
‘Mom, I want to give you a taste of how much love I have for you by giving you my candy.’
This little girl, who once faced unimaginable cruelty, had gathered her favorite candies—not just the ones she didn’t want—and gifted them to her mom. Her earnest pride and pure love were overwhelming.
“You have gifts to offer, too,” Amy Beth reflected. “Like my daughter and her candy, your most valuable gift might be connected to deeply rooted pain. Every day, we can choose to turn our pain into something beautiful—a gift for this world.”
Her daughter’s gesture was more than a bag of candy. It was a lesson in love, resilience, and the power to transform bitterness into sweetness.
If this story touched your heart, share it with someone who needs a little inspiration today. It’s a reminder that love and kindness can bloom even in the shadow of pain.
