How will I welcome him?

For work reasons, my husband had been away for a whole week. This meant that I had to manage four children at home on my own, as due to COVID-19, the schools were closed. In a discontented way, I kept thinking: “Was it right for him to take on so much?” Anxiety started to build up inside me, and I knew it would burst out when he came back.

At a certain point, however, I noticed that our youngest child was carefully preparing a drawing to give to her father when he came home. That kind gesture made me think and make a real examination of conscience: “What about me? How will I welcome him? Will I attack him and blame him, listing all the burdens I have had to bear?” That child’s drawing was an opportunity to change direction and decide, together with the children who were enthusiastic about the idea, to welcome their father with a party, preparing good things to eat and decorating the house. When my husband arrived, he got the surprise of his life! Tired but happy to be home, he exclaimed: “You don’t know what it means for me to have a family like this!”

(M.S., Hungary)

Taking a step towards healing

Years ago, my relationship with a neighbor broke down. My efforts to reconcile with him were futile. Recently, I realized that the feast day of the Saint he is named after was coming up, and I had an idea. But first, since he had moved, I had to do some research to track him down.

The morning of that day, a little nervously, I went to his house with a basket of gifts. His wife answered the door with a cordial welcome, “Look who it is! I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you at first” and called her husband. I was wondering how he would react. And yet I could never have imagined his huge embrace as he said: “What a gift you have given me by coming to visit! I was mean to you, but you know, sometimes I can’t control my temper!” In the living room, we had a friendly conversation for about two hours. Then, when it was time to leave, he offered me some produce from his fields.

I thanked God for this meeting that brought joy to us both: Only He could have instilled in me the courage to dare and to believe in the good that is hidden deep in the heart of every person.

(E.B., Italy)

Compiled by Maria Grazia Berretta

(taken from “Il Vangelo del Giorno,” Città Nuova, year VIII, n. 2, September-October 2022)