La época navideña es de unión familiar, reconciliación con la vida y con uno mismo y de dar más qué de recibir.
Hace unas noches estaba con mis hijos en la sala compartiendo un banquete navideño. Me asomé a la ventana y venía alguien caminando con un paso cansado.
Me sorprendí porque no esperabamos a nadie. Tocaron la puerta y era un señor de edad avanzada. Sus ropas rotas y su aspecto me hicieron darme cuenta al instante que era alguien que no tenía casa y que tal vez no había comido hace horas o días.
Le invité a pasar y me dijo que no quería molestar, buscaba un poco de agua para su cachorro, su gran compañero de la vida.
Le serví agua a su perro y lo invité a pasar a la sala. Afuera hacía frío, típico de las fiestas navideñas.
Mis hijos rápidamente pusieron un lugar en la mesa para él. Y lo invitaron a sentarse a cenar. Él se disculpó y dijo que no quería arruinar la cena familiar. Todos insistimos y finalmente aceptó.
Hablamos con nuestro invitado durante toda la cena. Después de la comida le invité una taza de chocolate caliente. Me dejó impactada su historia, fue un hombre muy importante, trabajó en un banco y tenía una familia estable. Cuando se vio ahogado entre problemas financieros y su familia se Desmoronó, términó en las calles y sin una moneda para comer.
Nuestro amigo se fue con una bolsa de comida, alguna ropa y mantas que le dimos para él y su cachorro. Nos prometió pasar a visitarnos más seguido. Yo me quedé con la mente revuelta de pensar que eso podría pasarnos a todos, por eso debemos valorar lo que tenemos y repartirnos amor entre la familia.
The Christmas season is a time of family togetherness, reconciliation with life and with oneself, and of giving more than receiving.
A few nights ago I was with my children in the living room sharing a Christmas feast. I looked out the window and someone was walking with a tired step.
I was surprised because we weren't expecting anyone. There was a knock on the door and it was an elderly man. His torn clothes and his appearance made me realize instantly that he was someone who had no home and perhaps had not eaten for hours or days.
I invited him in and he told me he didn't want to bother me, he was looking for some water for his puppy, his great companion in life.
I poured water for his dog and invited him into the living room. It was cold outside, typical of the Christmas holidays.
My children quickly set a place at the table for him. And they invited him to sit down to dinner. He apologized and said he didn't want to ruin the family dinner. We all insisted and he finally agreed.
We talked with our guest throughout dinner. After the meal I invited him for a cup of hot chocolate. I was shocked by his story, he was a very important man, worked in a bank and had a stable family. When he found himself drowning in financial problems and his family fell apart, he ended up on the streets without a penny to eat.
Our friend left with a bag of food, some clothes and blankets that we gave him and his puppy. He promised to visit us more often. I was left with my mind scrambled to think that this could happen to all of us, that's why we should value what we have and share love among the family.
