FOOD FOR THOUGHT

 Katerina is my server this morning. Her sweet spirit is always a tonic, feeding my soul as much as the steaming hazelnut latte nourishes my body. 

“How are your family?” I always check in with her. She is alone in Canada; her family are in a ‘safe’ part of Ukraine. 

She smiles warmly, pleased that I ask after them - that I think of them at all. 

“Oh, they are well, thank you for asking!”

I say how glad I am to hear this, in view of escalating war news.

“Oh yes, of course there are bombs now, every day, but they are fine!” She radiates peace and even...joy?

I express my concern that they are now being directly impacted.  Katerina shrugs, still smiling.

“This is our life” she says, now clearly speaking for her country. Calm.  Stoic? No, everything about her says this is her normal.

I savour a first sip as she cheerfully serves a new customer and realize - this is what bravery looks like.


Comments

  1. Mark4 October 2024 at 12:14

    We are so fortunate to live in Canada. It is good to have a reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sharon Houghton4 October 2024 at 22:12

    Terry, i was right there with you in the cafe. Thank you for writing this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. richard kjaer5 October 2024 at 18:29

    A great story, Terry. As you know, my family fled war ravaged Romania in 1944. Had they stayed they would have had a very difficult life under communism. I'm sure it is for this reason that I am interested in news from Ukraine and hope that people wherever they may be can live in freedom. Ultimately, all people want regardless of where they are in the world is to be able to feed their family and have peace and freedom to live and express themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  4. WalkerofLight5 October 2024 at 22:01

    Such a poignant recollection of what freedom truly means! My heartfelt Thanks for your sharing and I look forward to reading more profound posts!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Philippa Thomas6 October 2024 at 04:18

    Good to hear this Terry. I receive a daily prayer letter for Ukraine from friends from our church, who live there. They are just as Katerina says just getting on with life, it is their new normal!

    ReplyDelete

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