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A cup of joy



A Cup of Caring

We notice what we notice, and too often, we focus on not noticing. The painful things we ignore or suppress. We hide pain and forget joy. Pain, like joy, is all around us. I search for joy. I am not saying that I don't see pain; I do. But most pain is out of our control. Joy is always in our control; We just need to see it. I saw it this morning. I was early for our Tuesday morning coffee club. While I waited for friends to arrive, I had time to write, think, and get a glimpse of pure joy.  

There in front of me is a young man who is a caregiver to an old man who is noticeably mentally challenged. Every Tuesday they sit at the same booth by the window. I had seen them there before but today would be different. I was seeing them for the first time with my heart, instead of just my eyes.

The old man is drinking coffee and eating a muffin. The young man looks at his cell phone between lulls in conversation.  They both take turns looking out the window. How was your weekend, Gary? I will call the old man Gary. My radio stopped working said the old man between gulps. Maybe you need new batteries. I was sitting trying not to get noticed but I was smiling. The young man could see me and smiled as well. Things were quiet for a moment or two. The lull was spent watching people come and go. Then for some reason they started to laugh. I could barely hear them talking, and I obviously missed the joke. Sometimes joy is a laughing matter.

What I was witnessing was a magical moment. I was deeply moved. What I saw spoke louder than words. Caring. Compassion. And a moment shared by two people. These are the winks from heaven. These are the angels on earth. These are the joys I look for and dare I say live for. Seek and Yee shall find. Heaven is never too far away. All you need is a little cup of caring and to savor the flavor.

 

My pics.  Wakefield Mill Hotel and Spa. Wakefield QC.

 

 
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