Yuri's Story

Everyone has a story. Do you ever just look at a complete stranger and wonder about their story?

This is the short story of Yuri the janitor.

Every week, I handle some business in an office building in Broomfield Colorado. And every week, one of two things will always happen when I get to the building.

Either...

1. The janitor will see me coming and run to hold the door open for me.

or

2. I will enter the building and he will make sure that he beets me to the elevator to push the button before I get there so that the door will be open for me when I get to it.

When I first started going to this building I thought that Yuri was the doorman. He's ever so faithful with the doors.

But he's not. He's the janitor.

He's the friendliest, sweetest janitor I have ever met. And you will think I am kidding, but the Coldwell Banker in Interlocken has the shiniest floors I've ever seen in an office building! Hands down!

Every week Yuri greets me with a smile that lights up my world. And as I leave for the day, he's right there to get the door again for me. I always leave somehow better than I came.

So today when I got to the office I was doing business with, I asked...

"What's the janitor's story?"
"Why is he so happy all the time?"

The reply was not what I had expected. You see, Yuri the janitor is from Bolivia. He has been living here without his wife and daughter for three years. He works to save every dollar he can to bring his family to America. If you could meet this man, you'd never guess that his story is one of being alone in a new country without the people he loves the most. Yuri has touched so many lives that the people of the building have just set up a fund to help Yuri save to bring his family here. I guess I asked about him on the right day!

I wanted to give some money to Yuri's fund so I ran to my car to get some money. For a moment, I wondered how much I should contribute. What would be appropriate? After all, I don't actually know this man, but I wanted to be helpful to someone who has touched my life. As I pulled my hand out of my purse I realized that I had pulled out the exact amount that my boss had added to my check yesterday for a bonus...my question was quickly and simply answered. Funny how life works.

Last week, Yuri was the nicest janitor in the world! Today, I know that Yuri is more than a janitor. He's a husband and a father and a man who loves his family.

Merry Christmas Yuri!