The boy who taught me how precious life is when I was 6.

I have never told this story publicly, main due to that fact that even now, 38 years later I get very emotional when telling it. Isn’t it amazing how a memory from that long ago can still bring up very powerful emotions. I believe that when we take the time to think back and recall those memories that have remained so easy to access, that they have played a part to play in the creation of who we are. They serve as a reminder, some painful, some, like this one..beautiful.?

It was 1985, I was 6 years old and attending what in the UK was called first school. This school at that age was very big on social interaction and team building skills. I had been in first school for about 2 years and had maybe one year left until moving into middle school, where the real work would start.?

One day we started as we always did by gathering on the story rug in the classroom, probably around 15 children, girls and boys. The teacher gathered us together and told us that a new boy would be joining us. She explained that this young boy, also 6, was very special. His name was Sam and he was only going to be with us for a couple of weeks. The teacher then asked for two volunteers to look after, play with and show this temporary guest around during his stay. Straight away my hand went up along with my friend. Sam’s parents came into the classroom and brought Sam over to us, and said goodbye.?

As 6 year old boys we didn’t think much of this we just made Sam feel welcome and when on with the day.?

Sam was a very special young boy, he didn’t say anything but he always had a smile on his face and would laugh at almost everything you said. Very quickly Sam lifted the energy of that class room with his pure joy. We went out to the play ground to play and Sam still with a smile on his face, laughed and played with us. Yet he never spoke a word. Most of the other children just got on with their day as usual, most not even engaging with Sam, he was with us and as far as Sam was concerned that was all he needed.?

Each morning Sam’s mother would personally bring him into the class room and sit him down next to us. We were met every time by a big smile and laugh from Sam. I may have been only 6, but I do remember being so lifted by Sam’s pure joy. I would tell my parents all about him after school each day.?

Less than a week went by and one day we got into the classroom as usual, gathered on the story rug and waited for the teacher to address us. This time, there was no sign of Sam.?

“Where is Sam?” I asked the teacher. Our teacher asked us to all sit down as she had something to tell us. To this day I am so impressed with the way our teacher teated us with the respect enough to be honest when she could very easily of gone in another direction. The teacher proceeded to explain to us that Sam had been?brought to join us by his mother because he only had a short time to live, and after many months stuck in hospitals his mother wanted him spend his last days having fun with children his own age. Sam had passed away the previous night. Sam was terminal ill, and had been suffering for a long time. His final days were spent with us, children his own age. His parents wanted him get as much joy out of his life as he could. They could have spent all that time with him, but they knew that he would get so much joy out of playing with children his own age each day he could. ?

Sam taught us, taught me, a valuable lesson. In his final days he was showing us how to soak up every ounce of joy that simply being alive offers us.?

There hasn’t been a year gone by in my life that I haven’t thought of Sam, but if I am honest, there have been times that I have forgotten that lesson. Every day I spent with Sam, he wasn’t thinking about whether he would die tomorrow, he wasn’t even thinking about what he’d been through in the days gone by. Sam was right there in the moment having fun and laughing with us. Sam lived so fully in those last few days that he imprinted a permanent loving mark on my soul for life, and I am sure for other children in that classroom too.?

Joy and happiness don’t just happen to us. We must choose joy, find happiness everyday because none of us know what tomorrow will bring. Each day we wake up and we are alive, we have choices, we get to choose joy and find happiness all over again!

Dear Sam,

You were only here with us for 6 years, and only with me and my friends for a few days, and yet you brought so much joy to us all. You will be forever remembered.?x

James