As I was riding my bike home from work last beautiful Tuesday evening, I glanced down Glebe Road to see a family strolling hand in hand spanning the sidewalk…. father, mother, and two small children, I was struck with such a heartwarming portrayal of family togetherness and peacefulness. You don’t often see something like this on Arlington’s street. So I marveled at the serene simplicity and the warmth of the moment.
Then, in a few seconds, their characteristics from behind suddenly took shape and form. This was a family who had not so long ago graduated from our Family Home. I remembered the significant hardships they had struggled to overcome…each of them. As with any family wrestling to overcome homelessness and keep a family together, the struggles were immense. Yet, just this scene said to me…this is what Doorways does… it rebuilds families, strengthens the bonds among family members, and offers them a more vibrant life. It was a picture reflecting many worthwhile deeds and actions… that made me proud of the organization. I need to ride my bike more often… and take in the scenery.
~ Linda
Caroline Jones
Thanks for sharing this. One of the best things about our family’s affliation with Doorways is that we know that we are helping those right in front of our eyes whether we recognize them or not.