There was a girl in class named Rose who, although being just seven years-old, was always smiling and friends with everyone.

Whenever anyone needed anything, she would lend it to them. So her classmates always resorted to her when they were missing something.

- Rose! I forgot my coloured pencil case! Can you lend me yours? - Celso would say.

- Yes, Celso. Here it is! - she would answer, handing him her pencil case.

Soon it would be Jane asking for the ruler; Then it was Mara, who had forgotten her eraser. And so Rose, always with a smile, would lend her classmates whatever they needed.

Their teacher, noting that her classmates abused her goodwill, warned her not to lend anything to anyone because all students should have their own materials. But Rose would smile candidly and reply:

- It’s not a problem, teacher. If I am not using all the supplies I have brought, I can lend them to my classmates!

- Rose, this class has lots of students! If everyone asks for your things, you will not be able to do your part in the activities! - the teacher said, annoyed at her goodwill.

At the end of that day, the teacher warned her students that, from the next day on, she wanted to see everyone bring their materials in their bags. Borrowing from other classmates would not be allowed. Each one should bring their own supplies.

The next morning, as the end of class approached, the teacher asked everyone to draw a picture and then colour it, depicting what she had taught that day. Everyone was engaged with their drawing activity, when one of the students, after drawing his, recalled that he did not have any coloured pencils. The activity was going to be graded so he became worried. If he did not coloured it his grade would be low.

He got sad and when Rose looked at him and saw his red teary eyes, she asked: 

- What is happening, Jaime?

- I do not have coloured pencils! Not being able to colour it, the teacher will give me a very low grade!...

Rose had no doubts. She took out her pencil case and handed it to the boy. Then she carried on with her drawing. Soon the teacher announced that it was almost time to finish and hand in the drawing. The students became uneasy as many had not finished the activity yet.

And since Rose had not yet coloured her drawing, she sat there waiting for her classmate to finish his. Noticing this, the teacher asked Rose if she was finished, to which the girl replied:

- No, teacher. But I will finish it soon!

The mistress realised that Rose had not yet finished her task because she had lent her pencils to her classmate. So she waited to see what would happen. The time was up and she asked the students to hand in their drawings, which they brought over to the teacher's desk.

Only Rose did not do so. The mistress saw that she was worried but said nothing. She then asked her student:

- Rose, hand in your work. We are only missing yours!

The girl walked over to the teacher's desk, put the sheet of paper down and went back to her seat. The teacher examined each of the drawings and noticed that only Rose had not coloured her drawing:

- Rose, why did not you finish your drawing?

- I did not have time, teacher.

- But all the students did it in due time!

Rose lowered her head and kept silent. A boy decided to speak, telling the teacher that she had lent her pencil case to her classmate. Then the teacher made the class silent, and said:

- Rose, I've already told you that I do not want you to lend your pencils or any other materials to your classmates. Everyone should have their own stuff! Why do you act like this?

- Teacher, I've learned that we must help those who need it! So when a classmate does not bring their materials, I lend mine! That's what I learned from Jesus!... And Jaime does not have all the materials!

On hearing that, the teacher became sad because she knew the boy was very poor and his parents could not buy everything that they had been asked.

Then Rose suggested:

- Teacher, how do you feel about putting all the coloured pencils in the classroom into a box? That way we will all have coloured pencils at our disposal, won’t we?

They all clapped their hands with satisfaction because they liked Jaime, while their teacher happily smiled, acknowledging the good hearts of her pupils.

MEIMEI

(Psychographed by Célia X. de Camargo on 10/07/2017.)

Translation:
Johnny Silveira / silveirajohnny@yahoo.com