On Christmas morning, I went to take out the garbage and shake a little in my stomach all the dishes that I managed to throw at the end of the fast. As I approached the dumpster, I saw the janitor making some fuss. Well, I think there’s a man at work … but looking closely, I couldn’t get away from that picture.
A janitor from a Central Asian country spoke to his son via video link with kind eyes and a wide smile. He would take toys out of a garbage bag and show them to a child on the other side of the ecarna.
«Do you like it?» These are your New Year’s gifts, I will send you soon, as I promised! – said this janitor, pulling out of the trash found toys. I noticed the contents of the package: a truck, a doll, a car and some other toys. I didn’t see much damage in them. Someone must have done an audit. But what caught my attention most was the smile and delight of the child in the broken screen of the janitor’s smartphone. A boy of five was smiling in all his teeth and gestured with his hands, shouting something not quite legible. And the father just laughed and got new toys in response to each «Wow!» from the child. I finally got away from that picture and walked home with a squeezing heart. All the way back, I’d ask myself, «When was the last time I thanked God that I didn’t have to look for gifts for kids in the trash?» When I thanked God that I didn’t have to leave my family to work in other countries? There is no time to thank me when I constantly murmur and cannot be satisfied.” A lot of indescribable feelings from what you see.
I’m done. By the way, congratulations on last Christmas!
Credit Matney Moncef
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Soul investment!
Orthodox stories from life
