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Antonio
lived
with his
family
in a
little
village
on the
shore
and his
dad,
Pedro,
was a
fisherman.
Those
were
hard
days.
They
would
make a
living
of
fishing
and the
fish had
apparently
gone.
Antonio’s
mom
worked a
lot,
doing
all the
housework
and also
helping
preparing
the fish
to be
sold |
They always had
the staple, even
though they were
poor. Now,
however, hunger
was around the
corner.
|
During
many
days,
his
father
would
set
sail,
but his
boat
returned
empty.
With
great
dismay
was the
fisherman
living
and he
no
longer
had the
desire
to go
fishing.
Food was
scarce
in his
home,
because
there
was no
money,
and
Pedro
was
worried
about
his
family
being
hungry. |
 |
One day, and old
lady knocked on
his door begging
for food.
 |
— I’m
starving
— she
said
with a
hoarse
voice. —
For
God’s
sake,
help me!
Pedro,
mad and
nervous
with the
hardship
he was
going
through
answered
bluntly:
— How
come,
help
you? We
can
barely
support
ourselves!
I Just
can’t.
Little
Antonio,
touched
by the
situation
of the
old
lady,
replied:
— But,
daddy,
she is
asking
in the
name of
God!
Mommy
told me
that
Jesus
said we
should |
|
do to
others
what we
would
like
people
do to
us. Had
we been
in her
situation,
wouldn’t
you like
to be
treated
with a
bit of
respect? |
Antonio’s mom,
with a generous
heart and
willing to help
the old lady,
agreed:
— Our son is
right, Pedro.
Besides, it’s
only food,
anyway! We still
have it and
Jesus would be
pleased with us.
Pedro finally
gave in.
It was dinner
time and,
carefully,
Antonio’s mom
welcomed the
beggar home.
They sat at the
table and shared
what they had,
friendly.
On the following
morning the boy
woke up and saw
his father home.
— Weren’t you
supposed to be
fishing? — asked
the little boy.
— There’s no
point.
The fish have
gone — answered
the fisherman,
dismayed.
Antonio, with
his bright eyes.
said:
— I believe in
Jesus, daddy. He
would never walk
out on us. Let’s
go to the sea
and I’ll help
you out with the
fishing. In God
we trust and I’m
sure we’ll get
it.
Motivated by the
boy’s words,
Pedro dressed up
quickly and they
set sail.
Pedro threw his
net, and for his
surprise, it was
full of fish.
And so in the
second and third
times.
They went home
happy. Pedro was
over the moon.
— Thank you, my
son.
We had a great
fishing and
peace is back at
our home, at
last.
He hugged the
boy and said,
with tears in
his eyas:
— Were it not
for your faith
in God, we would
never get it.
It’s the story
Jesus taught us
that “if ye have
faith as a grain
of mustard seed,
then nothing
shall be
impossible unto
you”. But how
come you were so
sure we would
succeed this
time?
— Because I
learned, from
Jesus, that
whenever we help
somebody, we are
also helped! —
replied Antonio
logically.
Pedro stared at
his son for a
while, his eyes
in tears,
thanking God the
lessons he had
on this
unforgettable
day, taught by
his child.
From this Day
on, Pedro
trusted God and,
having known the
old lady was
homeless,
invited her to
live with them.
Aunt
Célia
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