If we stay alone

One of the great problems that Cubans, like many other nationalities, have had to face is family separation. The development of communications and international transport, as well as the disparity of economic conditions between the first world countries and the rest, have caused many people to leave their countries of origin in search of a better life for themselves and their families. < ! - break -> The saddest thing of all is that not all families manage to emigrate completely. On many occasions, parents see their children or the children of one of their parents emigrate, and a separation begins that does not always end in a happy reunion, since many circumstances prevent it.

I met a Guatemalan mother in New Jersey who longs to be reunited with her four children, whom she has not seen for several years. Her story sensitized my heart because it is the same as many Cuban men and women I know. She sacrifices herself and works hard, but the absence of her children is a heartbreaking experience. When will you be able to hug them? We really don't know. Meanwhile, she provides for her needs and hopes for a miracle from God that will spark the family reunion.

Is that God's plan for the relationship of a mother and her children? I'm sure life sometimes forces you to make drastic decisions for the sake of survival. But ideally, we could all live closely and closely with our loved ones. The years that we are in this world that are not so many, can be sweeter and brighter if the most loved people are by our side.

What to do then when our reality is different, those we love are far away and we do not want to succumb to depression and hopelessness? I would dare to say that the first thing is to strengthen our relationship with God. Psalm 27:10 says: "Even if my father and mother left me, still, Jehovah will pick me up." This teaches us that the absence of the company of our loved ones, whoever they are, makes us people in great need of divine company. When we feel alone or abandoned, God is an inexhaustible source of comfort and strength.

The circumstances that cause the distance of those we love can have different causes, and unfortunately, they do not always have a prompt or effective solution. The remoteness of the people we love is an almost impossible wound to heal.

However, a deep communion with God will always help us fill the emotional void that we feel in those cases, providing the comfort, hope and strength that only God knows how to bring to our hearts. That is why Jesus, when saying goodbye to his disciples, spoke to them of the comfort that the Holy Spirit, within themselves, could provide them.

If we have God, we will never be orphans, we will never be without protection. He never leaves us.

God bless you!