My uncle had just been released, and while the whole family turned their backs on him, only my mother opened her arms to welcome him…

My uncle had just been released and, while the whole family turned their backs on him, only my mother opened her arms to welcome him…

When the family business collapsed, my uncle simply said:

« Come with me. I want to show you something. »

When we arrived at that place, I burst into tears of shock…

My father died when I was in fifth grade. On the day of his funeral, my mother, overcome with grief, struggled to speak. Those close to her offered only a few words of comfort before leaving, each going their own way. From then on, my mother supported us alone, taking any job she could find to send me to school.

The only one who visited us regularly was my uncle, my father’s younger brother. But a year later, he was imprisoned for injuring someone while drunk. From then on, everyone disowned him.

« Bad blood doesn’t disappear, » they used to say.

They looked at my uncle with suspicion… and that look fell on us too.

Ten years later, my uncle was released.

« Stay away from him, » the family warned. « We don’t want to share in his shame. »

But my mother, a woman accustomed to suffering, replied:

« He’s still your father’s brother. He’s our blood, whatever he may have done. »

I saw my uncle in front of the gate — thin, with a torn backpack over his shoulder.
My mother smiled and opened the door:

« Come in, my brother. There will always be a place for you in this house. »

From then on, my uncle lived in Papa’s old room. Every morning he went to work; in the afternoon, he repaired the fence, swept the yard, and tended the garden plants.
One day, I saw him planting something and asked him what it was. He smiled and told me:

« What I plant here… will nourish good hearts. »

I didn’t really understand, so I just laughed.

Some time later, life dealt us another blow: I lost my job and Mother became seriously ill. The debts for medication were drowning us. One night, sitting in the dark, I was thinking about selling the house when my uncle approached. He sat silently and said in a calm voice:

« When my brother died, your mother was the only one who accepted me. Now it’s my turn to return the favor. Get ready and come with me. Don’t ask any questions. »

The next day, he took us in his old car.