Each Day is a Triumph!

By Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi, Current Missionary in Brooklyn, NY

L. is in her late 80s. She got a stroke about 2 and a half years ago which made her physical health decline a lot. Lately, she has not been able to do things or to walk much because of the development of arthritis on her body. I can go on listing all of the physical pains she has been enduring. Yet, each and every time we visit her, she is always in good spirits. It is not like she tries to hide, avoid or ignore facing the pain which is constantly there, but it is amazing that she is able to laugh at herself, to make fun of what seems a tremendous misery.

During one of my recent visits to her, she told me “There is always something else going on every day, but each day is a triumph.” After a few minutes to explain to me what has been going on, she started to make a joke and laugh. The sun shines again in her eyes and smiling face. The pain is there, yet she chooses to embrace and enjoy my presence with her at that moment. “I am happy that you come so that I can talk to you in person which changes a lot my routine. I cannot go out any more. Night and day, I am just sitting here.” Seeing her sometimes clenching in pain, I asked myself “Should I leave or stay?” However, her joy was a confirmation of the fact that she needs a friend to share her day, a friend to talk to and laugh with her. Her way of living her suffering shows me that we can choose to be happy in the mist of suffering by responding to God’s love through little things that He sends us on our day. It can be a beautiful sun light, a beautiful song, the presence of someone (a friend, a neighbor…) or a service to others… It seems easy, yet we certainly need to ask God for the grace to make that choice possible.