Sometimes life puts so many obstacles on the road that we think we cannot continue. But only the strength of a heart trained for vicissitudes is enough when we face difficult moments.

There is no person on the earth who hasn't gone through a bad day, a bad month or a terrible year. But even the great visionaries and those who have managed to achieve success have gone through tragic circumstances. They have used these tragedies in their favor and the result is: a success prepared for any eventuality.

When my dad has 30, he went through a complicated moment in his life. The labor market was on the verge of collapse and their savings didn't provide the stability to which we were accustomed. As expected, he spent a few months afflicted. However, that didn't stop him. He continued to strive to achieve what he once had, but projected to have even more. Imagine a father whose children were already beginning their university career, searching among the stones for the riches that their hand did not reach.

He started working overtime and sold some of his belongings as long as there was always enough bread on the table. I was the youngest of my brothers and I saw that as something "normal", but sometimes I saw my mom cry in solitude because my father spent very few hours at home.

However, when he got home, everything was a family party.

He always came smiling and making jokes. He played baseball and soccer with me and my brothers, and he also found time to watch a movie at home with Mom. How did he do all that? I have no idea, but it was wonderful!

When my father said the phrase that opens this post, we were at the Christmas dinner of 2010. We were already living better times because at home we all had jobs and my parents were much more comfortable than before. Suddenly, a gentleman knocked on the door of our house. I ran to open because we were waiting for my uncles, but I was very surprised to see the expression of pain and sorrow of the man.

He was a beggar who was looking for food. Where we live, unfortunately, there is a lot of homeless, so I thought of treating him as one more.

My father approached and asked the man why he was alone on Christmas Eve, he replied that he was tired of walking behind his family.

We didn't understand what he meant by that. I imagine that the gentleman realized and continued saying that the decisions of his life had led him to wander alone in the world. My father is very restless and asked again: - but why don't you try to improve your state of life? - Because I'm too old for that, sir -he answered- to live is an act of which I don't gain anything anymore.

My father smiled very calmly and invited him to have a hot chocolate. They both sat in the living room while the rest of the family waited in the dining room. I was just a spectator.

My friend, many of the things you see in this house had been lost in very hard times -my father began to say-. Technically, we were poor at some time, but I always kept the flame of my family on fire because I knew that one day we were going to light the torch of our providence. I had many different jobs and it took a lot of willpower to get ahead, but I never gave up. Yes, I perfectly understand your situation, we have all made a mistake, but the worst mistake we can make is to believe that we are at the end of our lives just because we are going through a bad patch.

I didn't know what to do. The gentleman's eyes gradually filled with tears, and I cannot deny that I did too.

As long as life continues to breathe through our bodies, we will have the opportunity to make up for any shortcomings we have committed. Can you imagine if I had the same decision you made? You would not be right now, drinking my wife's rich hot chocolate. Quiet friend, it is not a time to mourn but to celebrate this meeting, just remember that it's never too late to live and enjoy the best things in life.

I was very moved by that moment. It was beautiful to live that as the only witness. Since then I have added my dad's maxim to all the tasks I do in my life because if he has achieved so much, I can do it too!

Note: the first image is free to use thanks to Pixabay

PD: This really happened and I wanted to share it with all the steemians. Maybe my dad's words were not exactly as I wrote them (that's impossible) but the intention was the same.