Teddy Bear Present With a Hidden Meaning May Cause Tears

December 5, 2019 10:22 AM EST

When a man’s mom gave him a teddy bear over Thanksgiving, he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. It was only after a closer inspection of the little bear and a brief trip down memory lane, he realized that his mother had made him an irreplaceable treasure.

Twitter user @HiyaJosiah shared the heart-warming story on social media. “Mom gave me a teddy bear thanksgiving. Took a second to realize it‘s one of the most valuable things I’ve ever owned,” he wrote in the post. To explain, he included photos of the bear along with pictures of him with his grandfather. The bear was stitched together from swaths of fabric taken from the shirts that his grandfather is wearing in each photos.

It’s a truly sweet family heirloom that allows two people who clearly loved each other very much to stay close, even though one of them has passed on. Turns out, other people have had similar ideas and as word of @HiyaJosiah’s cuddly token spread across the internet, others chimed in with their own stories and photos of their own keepsakes that keep them close to loved ones they have lost. The result is a small corner of the internet that offers a good tug at the heart strings. One word of caution: Grab a tissue before reading or risk crying at your desk.

This is awesome! My family did something similar when my mom passed last year. Each son and grandchild has a pillow made from a piece of clothing. First great grandchild gets a blanket and teddy made from her aprons. pic.twitter.com/LcTxzeejnX

My mom made this for my son (3 years old now) after my dad unexpectedly passed last year. I definitely cried when I saw it. I'm glad she did it though. My son may never remember my dad, but he'll be able to keep this close. ❤ pic.twitter.com/9lvt4Xxc7A

My aunt did the same thing for me. My dad died when I was thirteen and so she got one of his favorite shirts and got a bear made out of it. Sometimes I put his cologne on it too to make it smell like him. pic.twitter.com/Zz7wkQoHbv

I received a teddy ! It was my late brothers shirt. I gave it to my daughter who never met him but now holds a little piece of him now. ❤️ he was a really special guy pic.twitter.com/rsArpJj3ZR

My cousin is having her first baby tomorrow and my aunt gave her a bear for her made out of our late grandmother’s pajamas. Best gift ever. pic.twitter.com/qBI9I7LDxm

I had some made from my father's shirts 4 years ago. One for my son, who was born after my dad died, and one for my sister. I love them. Glad you have some comfort from your bear. Sorry for your loss. pic.twitter.com/jMMojSPrR0

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