At age 75, my life was just a quiet record of the past. The death of my daughter Gianna was still fresh in my mind, and my son’s occasional visits made me feel alone. But everything changed when I saw Julia sitting by the road alone with her baby. She was a young mother.
I thought of Gianna when I saw how desperate and tired she looked, and I couldn’t ignore her plea for help. I opened my door to Julia and her baby Adam. As they got settled in, the house felt like it had life again.
We became closer as Julia got a job and I took care of Adam. She told bits and pieces of her past in a charity hospital, including about her sick daughter Aurora. I felt Julia’s sadness, which was a reflection of my own.
But one afternoon, I found Julia going through my things looking for money for Aurora’s surgery. I felt angry and sad at the same time as I saw how desperate she was. Even though I was afraid of losing a child, I decided to forgive.
We got everyone in the neighborhood to support a fundraiser. Neighbors, old friends, and past students all pitched in by giving goods and services. The event was a huge success, and it raised the money that was needed for Aurora’s treatment.
I held Julia’s hand the day of the surgery and thought about my own time with Gianna. The good news from the doctor made me feel better, and Julia’s thanks made me feel humble.
When Julia, Aurora, and Adam came back to my house, the rooms that were empty before were filled with love and joy. Because they were like family, I asked them to stay. Julia said yes, and tears filled her eyes.
At that moment, I understood that being kind had made my life better. There was warmth, noise, and a purpose in place of the quiet. I felt lighter when I saw Julia and her kids. They reminded me that the beauty of life is in the links you make by accident and the strength of love.
