Theme: Help

I want to help too!

Juquinha was very sad. His grandma was sick. She had been in the hospital for a few days. Now she was back, but she still needed a lot of care.

Grandma lived at Juquinha's house since he was a baby. She had always helped take care of him. She made him the food he liked, prayed with him, told him stories, taught him old songs, and much more. She was always affectionate, during happy and sad times. He loved his grandmother very much.

When she came back from the hospital, Juquinha was very happy, but later he saw that she was still very weak and that her family was very worried about her.

- It doesn't matter - thought the boy - at least Grandma is already home, and I'll take care of her so much, that soon she'll be fine!

But it didn't take long for Juquinha to realize that it wasn't so easy to take care of grandma. He was still young. He couldn't touch the stove. He didn't know how to cook anything, least of all the food Grandma needed.

Juquinha watched her mother lovingly prepare the soup and juices and then help grandma to drink it. He wished he could do that too, but he couldn't.

He was also watching his father. Juquinha's father had a lot of strength, and he was the one who took Grandma on his lap to put her in a wheelchair, when they needed to take her somewhere. Grandma was so weak she couldn't even walk. She just lay there with her eyes closed, resting, or sleeping.

Juquinha really wanted to be able to do something, but he didn't see how he could help his dear grandmother. This started to make him very upset.

One afternoon, Juquinha's mother, passing in front of his room, heard him crying. The boy was tired of that situation. He felt useless. He was worried about grandma, he wanted her to get better, but he didn't feel able to do anything for her.

His mother hugged him and calmly explained:

- Son, don't be like that. For now, you are still a child. Couldn't do the tasks your father and I are doing. One day you will grow up, you will have learned many things and you will be able to help a lot of people. The most important thing is that you have good will and that is worth a lot. For now, what you can do to help are activities that kids do anyway.

- In other words: nothing! - Juquinha said, bursting into tears again.

- No, honey, of course not. Anyone can do something good for others. While you still can't do all the tasks that grandma needs, you can help her with your prayers, with your affection. Come on, I'll show you.

The two then went to grandma's room. She seemed to be sleeping, but Juquinha's mother spoke to her anyway.

- Mom, look who's here! Juquinha!

Juquinha didn't know what to say, because he didn't even know if Grandma was listening. Even though he began to speak:

- Hi Grandma! Get well soon, grandma! OK?

Grandma didn't say anything, didn't even open her eyes, but she raised her hand a little towards him. Juquinha thought she wanted to reach him. He approached the bed and took her hand.

She continued as she was, but Juquinha noticed that she was smiling. This filled his heart with joy. Grandma was happy to hold his hand. Finally, he managed to do something for her.

After that, every day, whenever he could, Juquinha would go to grandma's room to hold her hand and talk a little with her. Then, in addition to talking, he also began to sing the songs and say the prayers she had taught him.

In a few days, Grandma started to improve a lot. She started to keep her eyes open. Sometimes she smiled and spoke a few words very quietly.

One day Juquinha came very close and managed to hear.

- I love you, Juquinha! - she said.

- I love you too, grandma - he replied, hugging her.

Grandma got better and better. She began to sing and say prayers with her grandson. Then she started talking. One fine day she even managed to stand up and take a few steps.

By the end, finally, she recovered and went back to the way she was before.

Juquinha celebrated each achievement of hers. And the affection between them seems to have even increased. He went on to help her in other ways too, fetching her glasses, putting on her shoes...

When she asked for something, Juquinha never complained and did it right away, because he was happy for everything he was already able to do.

From his mother he had learned that anyone could be useful when they really wanted to. And with grandma's illness he realized that he wanted to learn to do many things, because it's very gratifying to be able to help someone.

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com