Our relatives came round to visit and brought gifts with them. Soon enough, though, they asked if we could put their gifts out on the table.
One day, our family from out of town let us know theyd be coming by. Naturally, wed explained ahead of time that things were a bit tight for us financially, and that we were just about managing.
Not that we were starving, just living simply. Im a pensioner, and my son doesnt earn a large wage, so entertaining guests is a bit of a stretch for us. When our relatives arrived, they didnt come empty-handed; they brought heaps of food and a few presents as well.
My son thanked them for their thoughtfulness and we quietly put the gifts to one side. As I said, wed been upfront about our situation. For lunch, there was bread and butter, a few biscuits, and some strong tea. Our relatives ate, but their faces were rather sourthey sat in silence. I didnt let it trouble me; after all, I had warned them about our meagre means. We simply shared what we had.
For supper, we had a light soup, bread, cheese slices, sandwiches with cold sliced beef, and yet more tea. They probably expected something more extravagant, so they looked quite displeased.
Eventually, one of them asked why we hadnt served the food theyd brought. I listened, a bit baffledwere their gifts meant for us, or were they bringing food for their own meal? If so, they could have just asked us to pop it in the fridge.
An argument followed, stretching out for ages, before they finally packed up and left the next morning. To be honest, Im not bothered where they decided to stay the night. I dont feel the need to have them in my home again. At least, in the end, there were some useful leftoverscakes, a bit of liver, meringues, and some fruitsomething good to come out of it all. That evening, my son and I sat down to a comforting cup of tea and a delicious bit of cake.
It just goes to show: kindness isnt always about grand gestures or fancy mealsits about appreciating what you have, sharing it with others, and not losing yourself by trying to please everyone.
