“It was hard to wait in line, but the feeling of hope carried us through,” recalls Ferdinand. “When we finally made it, we were overwhelmed with joy by the army of volunteers.”
His fears continued to ease as he watched the volunteers load food into his trunk.
“We were in awe. The variety of fresh produce, meat, eggs, bread and dairy — this was the kind of nutritious food my daughter needed,” describes Ferdinand. “I felt my prayers were answered. We were in tears.”
While his tears were hidden behind his sunglasses, Ferdinand’s gratitude illuminated in a way that everyone could see. In times of uncertainty, he teaches us to choose gratitude over shame.
“My family is grateful and not ashamed,” reminds Ferdinand. “It has been a blessing to have those feelings during a time when we were mostly feeling panic, doubt and hopelessness. We are overjoyed, and that excitement has carried us many days.”