Eight year-old
Nico was a good
boy who worried
when he saw
people asking
for a coin, a
loaf of bread or
a plate of food.
One day his
family talked
after dinner
when Nico's
father
remembered:
- The Gospel of
Jesus invites us
to help the
needy. And says
that when we
throw a party we
should not only
invite those who
can give us
something back
later but those
who have nothing.
The boy became
pensive and
after a brief
snack kissed his
parents
goodnight and
went to bed.
That night, Nico
thought of
nothing else.
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The next
day, a
beautiful
Saturday,
he did
not have
school.
He was
on
holiday!
So he
went out
into the
street,
with the
ball
under
his arm,
looking
for his
friends.
He saw a
family
who was
begging
in the
street.
He
remembered
the
lesson
of Jesus
which
they had
read the
night
before.
Soon
after,
Nico
forgot
about
them
when he
saw some
friends
coming
into the
square.
He ran
to meet
them and
started
playing
football.
At the
end of
the
game,
Nico
invited:
- Joel,
shall we
go to my
house to
play?
- I’d
love to,
Nico,
but I
have to
help my
mother.
We have
nothing
at home
and she
went out
into the
streets
to ask
for alms
- Joel
said
sadly.
Nino was
speechless
and Joel
waved
goodbye
to
|
 |
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him. Arriving
home, Nico who
was already
hungry because
it was almost
lunch time was
still thinking: |
"- In our house
there is so much
food! We never
go hungry and
the refrigerator
is packed with
good things. How
hard it must be
to have nothing
to eat!"
Then Nico had an
idea and his
face brightened
with joy. He ran
after Joel, who
did not live far
away, and
invited:
- Joel, come
with your family
to have lunch at
my house.
- Does your
mother know
about it? - the
boy asked.
- She doesn’t
but it doesn’t
matter. There's
always plenty of
food left in our
house, believe
me.
- If that's the
way it is I
thank you, Nico,
because in our
house we never
have anything to
eat, only when
we get a
donation. I'll
tell my parents!
Nico smiled and
waved his hand.
He ran to the
square and found
old men, women
and children
sitting on the
sidewalk, hands
outstretched,
hoping to get a
coin or a
sandwich or
fruit. Nico
invited them all
to come to his
house,
explaining to
them how to get
there.
Soon, in front
of Nico's house
there was a lot
of people
waiting for
something. Nico
arrived, smiled
happily at the
sight of so many
people and went
in to tell his
mother:
- Mom! I invited
some people to
have lunch here
at home today!
- What do you
mean? - the
mother asked.
- It’s because
they have
nothing to eat,
Mom, and I felt
sorry for them!
His mother went
to the porch and
was shocked to
see that many
people. Then,
noticing the
hope and smiles
on their faces,
she filled
herself with
courage to face
the situation.
There was plenty
of cooked beans
in the freezer
and rice was
easy to make,
plus she had
some already
cooked meat that
was also frozen.
So she would
just have to
defrost the food.
And there would
also be a salad
of lettuce with
tomatoes.
 |
Soon,
everyone
was
invited
to enter
and they
were
taken to
a large
patio in
the
backyard.
After
washing
their
hands in
a sink,
they all
sat down
and
accommodated
themselves
as best
they
could,
full of
excitement!
It was
the
first
time
they had
been
invited
to lunch!
|
|
Nico was
very
happy to
watch
everyone
sitting
down
with the
dishes
that his
mother
was
bringing
and
giving
to each
one of
them.
The joy
of the
people
was
contagious!
When his
mother
saw that
everybody
had been
served,
she said: |
- You can eat!
Enjoy your food!
- Mom! I think
we should pray
like we always
do before we eat,
don’t you think?
- Nico
remembered.
- You're right,
Nico! You say
the prayer,
honey, as it is
to you we owe
the joy of
receiving all
our friends here
in our home!
So Nico closed
his eyes and
prayed:
- Dear Jesus! On
this blessed day
that you gave us
may your love
extend to all of
us who are here.
Let us lack
nothing and may
our friends also
feel your
presence and
your love! Thank
you, Lord, for
the food we are
now going to eat!...
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Célia X. de
Camargo on
28/11/2016.)
