This morning I opened my social media as I always do-checking in on the pages I administer and the private groups I moderate.
I consider it a sacred duty to watch after the precious hearts who choose to be open and honest and expect a safe, secure space in which to do it.
As I was scrolling and reading, I came across this meme:
No quotation marks, no author cited.
These are MY words written about MY son and very, very personal.
You can read the original post here: https://thelifeididntchoose.com/2016/08/17/unnatural/
I’ve written before about how painful it is when people steal words. Not because I want recognition myself. If that was my desire I’d have collected the posts into a book by now. Not because I seek monetary gain. If that was true, I’d have advertisements or sponsored links. Not because I’m so naive to believe people can’t steal them in this wild, wild world of Internet freedom and piracy.
No. It’s painful because it’s disrespectful of me, my family and my son about whom they are written.
I write and share so that others have words to help their hearts. The only thing I ask in return is that the origin of them is acknowledged.
Is there no shame anywhere?
Is there no honor among parents who also share the pain of child loss?
I can’t imagine that a stranger, ignorant of the burden we bear, snapped up these words randomly to make a meme.
I don’t want to spend my time searching the internet and bereaved parent sites looking for instances where someone has stolen my words and dishonored my son and misused my trust.
I’m not going to do it.
But I am going to publicly point out that it happens.
And if it’s you who has done it-
shame on you!
thelifeididntchoose 