I'm Glad I'm Not You, Cus Then I Wouldn't Be Me

This is not a New Years, resolution, as it seems there is only two options in regards to those, triumph or fail. I believe life is a series of both triumphs and failures and even in our triumphs we experience failures. I expect to fail along the way, but I also expect to succeed. The question will be how long will it take to achieve the goal. In my case, it will probably take a lifetime. See, I’ve decided, I need to be more compassionate. Let me write that better, “MORE”, ok “LOTS MORE.” It’s time to live more in other peoples shoes than my own. Let me relate a story.

We have one roofing crew living with us here at the house, They are all Spanish and of Mexican decent, they hail from Arkansas, they do excellent work and are a great bunch of guys. We’re talking about guys who try hard to understand you, who even thought they don’t have 2 nickels to rub together would give them to you if you asked. Oh, they’re not perfect, they drink far too much, they need to understand the concept of deodorant and they had better learn how to clean up the kitchen the few times they use it.

One of the crew goes by the name of Quatro, thusly named because he can handle no more than 4 beers. Quatro is 43, has a wife and 6 daughters, all of whom live in Mexico along with an elderly mom and dad and a disabled sister. Quatro is the provider. Quatro is also an undocumented worker, yep as we better like to say, an illegal alien. He works and makes anywhere from 400 dollars to 800 dollars a week depending on their schedule and he keeps between 60 to a 100 dollars each week and sends the rest home to his wife. His work has allowed his family to buy a house and property where they now grow vegetables and sell them. Their hope is to be able to open up a store and Quatro will be able to come home, knowing his family is provided for. Quatro lives one step above homelessness to achieve this dream and he has not seen his wife and children for 2 and a half years. Well, that was until last week.

Quatro received a call Christmas Eve, telling him his father was dying and his dying wish was to see his son one last time. Quatro, left his dreams, put in question his future to grant his dads desire. For him to come back to our country he will have to raise 3,000 dollars and risk crossing the border. That is the going rate at the moment. We’ll see if he makes it. Wrong or right as this situation might be, I want that same type of compassion to be a part of my life.

Sorry guys, I can’t find a question in this one.