Theme: Good manners, kindness

Paul on the street

Paul was still very young, he was only 4 years old, but he liked to observe everything carefully. He was very lively and smart.

One day he went shopping with his mother and took a bus. Sitting on the bench near the window, he looked at everything with great curiosity and thought:

- How many people on the streets! They carry packages, bags and how fast they go! Where are they going in such a hurry?

	Look at that bus then, how full of people it is! There are more people standing than sitting! When he saw a
man giving his place to a woman with a baby in her arms, Paul asked:

- Mom, why did that man get up and let that lady sit in his place?

His mother explained to him:

- This attitude is part of the rules of good manners, my son! That man was very kind. We should all be friends and brothers, especially when we meet a person in need! That lady was unable to hold herself and, carrying a child, it is more difficult to remain standing. She could fall and hurt herself as well as the child. The man was really kind! It´s a shame that just a few people are like him!

Paul listened attentively, thinking a lot about what mom had told him and concluded that he would like to do the same for someone else.

Distracted, Paul put his feet on the seat where he was. His loving mother said:

- Don't do that! To put your feet on the seat is lack of good manners. When someone else sits here, they'll get their clothes dirty. We need to respect people even if they are not our acquaintances.

Paul promptly responded to his mother's request. He had never thought like that. He didn't know that by putting his feet on the bench he could do harm to people. While he was thinking about what had happened, an elderly woman got on the bus. She looked tired and held on with struggle. She looked around and found nowhere to sit. Realizing this, Paul's mother asked him to give her his place. The boy got up and the lady sat in his place, thanking him.

Paul, very surprised, turning to his mother, spoke to her in a low voice:

- She's not holding any children. Why did I have to give my seat?

The mother smiled and said:

- Son it is not only for ladies who carry children that we should be kind, but also for elderly ladies and gentlemen who are already tired and sometimes sick. It´s really important our education and good manners that the first seats that are close to the door of the subway car and buses are always used to make room for the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women or carrying children in their arms, did you know that?

Paying close attention to his mother's words, Paul looked at the little old woman who was smiling, grateful for his kindness and good manners. He was overjoyed as he had understood the importance and pleasure of being kind.

(History of the booklet on Evangelization by Editora Aliança)

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com