Fr. Jose Kaimlett Sunshine On a Rainy Day!
Have you ever had a day when everything seemed to be going wrong, and nothing seemed to go right? Not too long ago I was having one of those days. I was discouraged, weary, and plain sad. My focus was on me, and me alone. After all, no one else was experiencing the same trials as I was.
I expressed my downcast state to my mother, hoping for some pity. Instead, she said, “I heard Jamie was having a difficult day too. Why don’t you make her some cookies and we’ll take them to her this afternoon?”
I didn’t really want to, but decided that I didn’t want to go back to my other problems just yet. I made the cookies and arranged them on a little plate. Then I made a card with a sunflower on it and wrote a small note of empathy.
That afternoon we dropped by my friend’s house. I went to the door and rang the bell. Soon, Jamie came to the door and looked at me in surprise for the unexpected visit. Before she could say anything I rushed, “I heard you were having a hard day and decided to bring you something. I hope your day goes better.” The look that came over Jamie’s face was one that I could never put into words. It was as if a darkened sky was suddenly lit with the golden rays of the sun; it was as if in that small act, her day was brightened.
I got back into the car and for some amazing reason, I felt a lot better myself.
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James Barrie says, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.” The best medicine for one’s depression is to cheer up someone who is in the self same condition.
