Theme: Charity and detachment
Charity
Lucia’s mother was getting ready for another visit to
needy families in a very poor neighborhood of the city.
She used to do this every weekend. She carried food and
attention. Friends gave her groceries and during the
visits she talked, spoke of the teachings of the Gospel
and often also prayed with the families, encouraging
faith in the suffered hearts.
Lucia's mother called her saying:
- Daughter, I'm going to visit a
family today that has a girl younger than you. I
separated some clothes of your clothes that no longer
fit you. I would like you to choose some toys that you
don’t play anymore to give as well.
Lucia's mother spoke naturally,
thinking that there would be no problem for the daughter
to attend to her request. But that was not what
happened. Lucia had been too attached to her belongings.
Her clothes and toy closets were full. She could not
find a place to keep the new things she earned, but she
still didn’t want to get rid of anything. So, when she
heard her mother's words, she answered loudly, sharply:
- What? I don’t want to give
anything! I play with all my toys. Just because I have
not played with some of them, it doesn’t mean that I
will not play anymore!
Nervously, she took the clothes from
the bag, which her mother had separated and decided not
to give them either.
- But these clothes do not fit you,
Lucia. And there's a girl in need.
- I know, mother but they are
beautiful, I like them very much and I want to keep them
to myself. Here's my favorite blouse and reminds me of
my ballet lessons.
The blouse was white, printed with a
pair of beautiful pink ballet shoes, trimmed with a
satin lace.
Lucia's mother was very disappointed
in the girl's reaction but instead of trying to convince
her, she just said:
- All right, daughter, you decide.
But, you know what? I think you're already grown up and
you can join me. Today I'm going to take you with me,
let's go out together and after the visit we can take a
walk.
Lucia liked the idea. She wanted to
go out with her mother.
- Yay! So, I'll change and put on my
new dress!
- No, daughter, you'd better put on a
very simple outfit. The people we are going to visit can
be upset if we show that we have beautiful new clothes
and they don’t. Put on an older one, very comfortable,
simple outfit that will be better - taught mom.
Lucia was a bit worried about what
the visit would be like, but she obeyed her mother's
recommendation.
When they arrived at the place, Lucia
was surprised, because she did not imagine that the
house was so simple, with so many needs. The housewife
received them with joy. Lucia helped carry a box of
packages of food and gave it to the woman, who thanked
her very much.
Then they sat down and began to talk.
Lucia’s eyes watched over and she began to realize that
there were many things missing: space, food, furniture,
comfort and much more.
The housewife then called her
daughter who was outside. She had long, embarrassed
hair, wore faded clothes and a slipper that was smaller
than her feet.
The girl looked at Lucia, gave a
smile and said:
- Do you want to play?
Lucia thanked her but said she didn’t
want to. She made the excuse that she was helping her
mother. In fact, she was uncomfortable. It was something
new to her to know a house so poorer than her own.
The girl remained there, sitting on
the floor playing with chopsticks that she had brought
from outside.
After some time, Lucia asked:
- What is your name?
- Luiza - said the girl.
- My name also begins with Lu. My
name is Lucia.
Little by little, Lucia began to talk
to Luiza, and when she left with her mother, she said
good-bye with a smile to her new friend.
That visit made Lucia change. Knowing
the material difficulties that Luiza's family was
experiencing, she realized how much she could help the
new friend, without any injury to herself, giving only
what she no longer used.
The other week, it was the turn of
another home to be visited. But Lucia asked her mother
to go back to Luiza's house. This time she took lots of
clothes and toys. Luiza was so happy that she gave a cry
of joy to see that all this was for her.
Lucia showed off her favorite blouse
and asked:
- Does it suit you?
Luiza, seeing that beautiful clothes,
dressed them at once and began to jump, imitating,
vibrant, the steps of ballet Lucia taught her.
The two children had a good time
dancing together. Luiza was happy in her new blouse, and
Lucia was happier still, glad with what she had provided
for her friend.
Lucia's mother, watching the scene
with tears in her eyes, thanked God for her daughter to
have discovered what she had also learned: that doing
charity makes very good to the heart!
Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com
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