Lenten Meditation for Today :

4 days ago

Last October, I was able to be a volunteer translator for the Somos Amigos Medical Missions trip to the village of Naranjito in the Dominican Republic. My assigned doctor was ready for her next patient, so I went out into the waiting area to bring him to the exam room. The patient was an 84-year-old gentleman accompanied by his 78-year-old wife. Juan (not his real name) had recovered from a stroke and had to walk painstakingly slowly with a cane in order to maintain his balance. But what blew us away about him was his attitude! There was no “woe is me” in him. He had a terrific sense of humor and kept us laughing as he teased us and his wife. At the conclusion of his consultation with the doctor, he gave us both big hugs and thanked us. He also continued to make us laugh.

And so he taught us, that despite a disability, it is possible to continue to face life with hope, humor, and joy in the moment and share those gifts with others.