Tt's build a bear

Since losing Jeremy, TT has attached himself to a Build-A-Bear. He takes it everywhere he goes. He talks to it like it’s Daddy, tells it things, and even when he’s at school, he makes sure his bear is sitting in my home office waiting for him. When he gets home, the first thing he does is grab his bear and tell him all about his day.
The other evening, TT accidentally left his bear outside. When he realized it was missing, he panicked. He couldn’t remember where he had left it, and he was so upset. He was crying and screaming, and all of us were frantically searching the house trying to find this little bear that means so much to him.
In all the commotion, I looked up and noticed Link standing by the back door. He was trying to tell me something, but TT was so loud that I couldn’t hear him.
I think Link knew he wasn’t supposed to open that door and go outside by himself, but before I could even get to him, he opened the door and ran outside.
My heart dropped.
But just a few seconds later, Link came running back inside...
And there, in his little hands, was TT’s bear.
He ran straight over to his brother and handed it to him.
TT grabbed the bear, hugged it tightly, and then turned around and wrapped his arms around Link in the biggest hug. He almost knocked his brother over.
It was such a little moment, but it broke my heart and warmed it at the same time.
Link knew how much that bear meant to his brother. He knew TT was hurting, and he went outside to find the one thing he knew would make him feel okay again.
Sometimes kids don't have the words for grief or for how much they miss someone. Sometimes they just find something that makes them feel a little closer to the person they lost and hold onto it with everything they have.
And sometimes, they have a brother who quietly understands and goes looking for it when they need it most.
Tonight, that little Build-A-Bear wasn't just a stuffed animal.
It was comfort. It was Daddy. And it was a brother showing his little brother, in the sweetest way possible, that he wasn't alone.