It was the day
the family
gathered to do
the Gospel at
Home. After the
father said the
prayer, they
finished the
meeting.
They drank a
small glass of
fluidified water
each and, while
the mother set
the table for a
snack, talked
about the
subject that the
Gospel, opened
at random, had
brought them to
reflect upon. It
had been about
the need to
develop love for
others.
While the mother
finished to fix
the snack,
father and
children
commented on the
text, talking
about the
importance of
helping anyone
in need. At that
moment Jules
commented:
|
 |
- Daddy,
but
there
are
people
who
abuse
our
goodwill!
Many
times
they do
not even
need it
and ask
for
something
out of
habit.
Carla,
his twin,
heard
his
words
and said:
- Jules,
but the
Gospel
invites
us to
aid all
the
needy!
How to
know who
really
needs |
|
it
or who
is
taking
advantage
of
people? |
The boy thought
for a moment and
replied:
- Just watch how
they ask! There
are people who
have everything
at home and keep
asking!
Their father,
wishing to
maintain the
peaceful
atmosphere of
the meeting,
interfered:
- Children! Do
not judge. Let's
have the snack
Mom has prepared
for us.
The children
agreed and began
to serve
themselves as
they were hungry.
The following
day, Carla went
to school and
saw her friend
Viviane in old
and torn clothes.
Teacher Aurora,
noting that the
student was not
in her school
uniform, asked
why wasn’t she
wearing it, to
which she
replied:
- My mother
washed my
uniform, but it
did not dry in
time because of
the rain. So, in
order not to
miss classes, I
thought it best
to come anyway -
she replied,
blushing with
embarrassment.
- But do you
only have one
uniform,
Viviane?
- Yes, teacher!
It is because
our house was
invaded by the
rain that has
fallen these
last days. So my
mother is
washing and
cleaning
everything,
while my father
repairs the
damage the rain
has done! The
roof is broken
and the water
went everywhere.
A horror!...
The other
students laughed
but the teacher
motioned for
them to stop it,
stating:
- This is
serious! It's a
friend of yours
who, because of
the rain, needs
help! And what
if it were you
who were in her
condition? In
fact, you should
all help Viviane
so she could
have another
uniform.
The students
nodded, feeling
ashamed that
they had been
amused by her
classmate's
situation. Then
one of the
students raised
her hand and
said:
|
-
Teacher,
Viviane
and I
wear the
same
size. I
thought
I'd give
her a
shirt.
Mom
bought
me three
because
they
were on
sale!
- Very
well,
Betina.
Who else
wants to
share
what
they
have
with
Viviane?
- I can
give you
a pair
of
trousers.
We are
|
 |
|
the same
size! -
said
another
girl. |
Then another
student lifted
his arm and
offered a wool
sweater. Another
offered a pair
of sneakers, and
so on.
- Thank you,
friends! I
really need the
uniforms! - she
gladly thanked
her classmates.
Right then,
Carla had an
idea:
- Why don’t we
go to Viviane’s
house? That way
we'll know what
her family
really needs.
Everyone clapped.
They agreed that
at the end of
the classes that
day they would
accompany
Viviane to her
home. When the
bell rang, the
students left
together and
went to their
friend’s house,
after telling
their families
that they would
go to a friend's
house with their
teacher.
When they
arrived, they
were saddened to
see the
destruction done
by the rain, but
they volunteered
to help with the
reconstruction.
Their teacher
bought bread and
cheese to make
them snacks, and
Viviane's mother
made more
sandwiches for
everyone, since
they would not
have a proper
lunch, and they
started to work:
they carried
timber, bricks,
sacks of cement,
lime and more.
By the end of
the day, they
were tired but
happy.
They all hugged
each other as
they prepared to
return to their
homes. They were
very pleased to
have worked
together to help
the family of
their friend.
Her parents
thanked the
whole class and
hugged all the
kids.
The friendship
between them had
increased
greatly and
everyone was
happy. Someone
remembered that
there were
others with
problems because
of the rain. And
exchanging a
look, they
decided that
they would help
other families.
After all, now
they had
experience and
already knew how
to do it! They
could help a lot
of people!...
When the job was
over, before
they left, they
felt happy that
they had been
able to help
that family with
their good will,
and all their
little faces lit
up with
beautiful smiles.
Remembering the
habit they had
at home, Jules
suggested:
- Can we say a
prayer, thanking
Jesus that we
could help?
Viviane's
parents felt
their eyes fill
with tears and
they agreed to
the suggestion.
- Who will say
the prayer? -
Viviane's father
asked.
- I can do it! -
said Jules, full
of good will.
And closing his
eyes, he thanked
Jesus for the
day they had,
asking for peace
for that house
and for the
homes of all
students,
including his
own.
Before leaving,
they said
goodbye to
Viviane’s
parents with a
hug. Everyone
was happy!
MEIMEI
(Message
received by
Célia X. de
Camargo on
28/01/2017.)
