Please meet Doña Juanita
When we first arrived at Hogar Betania, I saw a tiny, hunched over woman come out of her room and go straight to lie down on the bench. She was very unsteady, holding onto the doorway of her room, then reaching for the bench with one hand to hold herself up, as she made her way to lie down. The woman would stay there for a while, then get up and go back to her bed the same way. She repeats the process all day. This is all her life is.
The next day, I had the opportunity to visit with one of the nuns, Sister Sorbilma. She’s worked at the home for two years and she just exudes love. I have been using Microsoft Translator frequently during this trip because my Spanish just isn’t that good, and I do some screen captures on my phone after the translation to remember details from conversations.
Sister Sorbilma told me the woman’s name was Juanita, and said she had no children. Then she said, “She was found abandoned in the street.”
Later, as I was walking past Doña Juanita, I stopped to look at her. She had her eyes closed tightly, blocking out the world. Ever so gently, because at a certain age everything can hurt, including a gentle touch, I put my hand on her shoulder. I just wanted her to know she wasn’t alone. She stirred, opened her eyes, then saw me and smiled. “Mi hermana,” she said, (“My sister”) and sighed, closing her eyes again.
One of you reading this right now recently emailed me to say you don’t feel as if you’re able to contribute to the world in any meaningful way any more because of your current situation.
Folks, I give you this: Just my one touch with Juanita brought her a moment of joy and peace in an otherwise emotionally isolated and lonely existence. That one moment made a difference for her.
Every touch we offer someone, whether a smile, an email to say “hi,” or the touch of a hand on their shoulder — every touch of their heart can make a difference. And those differences are all meaningful contributions to our world.
If you believe in it and do it, together we’ll make the world a better place.
Alicia
♥
