Today, I stopped to talk to a man that I have passed by for years but never took the time to stop and talk.
I listened mostly as he talked. His face appeared as if death was staring him in the eyes and I could see the heavy emotion in the wrinkles of his face as he described growing up as a child. His eyes would brighten up as he talked about his youth only to darken as he talked about growing old. He told me of lost loves, broken marriages and lost children but his eyes twinkled as he talked about his wife, children and grandchildren.
He had a special connection with animals and told me that children and animals were the best judge of someone’s character; I agree. He described his own failures in life and how he climbed back from the mire each time. He looked as if he didn’t have a friend in this world but I have seen him with many friends before, so I couldn’t understand his sadness.
I could tell he loved his wife, children and grandchildren as he smiled with the mention of each of their names, but also the worry on his brow as he talked about his children and grandchildren going out into this world and what they had to face. I could tell by our conversation that he was a caring man. I could tell that he would worry about his children and grandchildren until he passed from this earth; had he done enough to prepare them?
As I talked with this man, I realized I did not know this man. Why had I not stopped by my mirror and talked to him long ago?