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Once upon a
time, a little
shepherd walked
through the
fields
shepherding his
sheep.
He was already
tired and hungry
when, over the
green grass and
in the middle of
the vegetation,
he found a small
leather bag. He
opened it, and
he had a
surprise: there
were five
beautiful gold
coins in the
bag!
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He got carried
away! How many
things he could
do with this
money! |
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Grabbing the
shining coins,
he yet thought
if they would
belong to
somebody, and
this somebody
would be
definitely
desperate. |
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The desire
to keep the
coins,
though,
spoke louder
and, calming
the
conscience
down, he put
away the
little
treasure
thinking,
not so
enthusiastic: |
— What if I find
the person who
lost the coins,
I give them
back.
Otherwise, they
are mine, since
I found them.
And so he was
thinking, spent
the rest of the
day making plans
of how he would
use the treasure
that was
suddenly on his
hands.
As evening was
coming, he took
the little sheep
back home,
decided not to
tell his mom, as
he feared she
would tell him
to give the
coins back.
After all, there
weren’t so many
houses around,
so probably
someone in the
valley had lost
them.
As he got home
he learned that
his dad needed
to go on a trip
to make some
good
business.
After three days
his dad was
back. He was
dismayed and
sad, dirty and
covered with
dust.
His wife,
worried, asked
what happened,
and he replied:
— You won’t
believe what
happened to me!
After the long
trip I arrived
at my
destination.
When I was about
to make the
deal, I noticed
I didn’t have
the money I
needed to pay
for the sheep. I
searched
everywhere, went
through my
things, but I
couldn’t find
it. I realized,
too late, that
the backpack I
took had a hole
in it, so
probably I lost
the money on the
way. But,
how to find it?
Certainly
someone had
already found
his money and he
would never see
his savings
again.
And the man
concluded,
sadly:
— My resources
have gone and I
had to ask for
public charity.
I had no
shelter, not
even food.
Thanks god, I
made my way up
here after long
suffering.
Despite losing
everything I
had, you all are
still my most
precious
treasure.
As he said it,
he hugged both
his son and his
wife, nearly
crying.
The teenager
remembered the
treasure he had
and got happy.
After all, he
could do
something for
his beloved dad.
He rushed to his
room and came
back with the
small leather
bag containing
the five coins,
and smiling, he
gave it to his
dad, saying:
— Take it,
daddy. It’s all
yours!
The poor man saw
his bag and
asked,
surprised:
— Where did you
find it, my
son?
— In the middle
of the
vegetation, as I
was shepherding
the sheep.
— That’s true!
I wanted to gain
some time so I
took a shortcut,
getting out of
the road.
Oh, my son!
Thanks God, you’ve
found it.
The Lord is so
good! But, how
could you tell
it was mine?
The boy answered
surprised:
— I didn’t know,
daddy. I could
not even imagine
it was yours. I
thought it was
somebody
else’s!
The father
suddenly got
serious, and
grabbing him by
the arm,
inquired:
— What have you
done, my son?
You found this
treasure that
belonged to
someone else and
decided to keep
it? As I was the
one who lost it,
it could have
been any other
one here in the
valley. Didn’t
you think of the
desperation, the
owner of the
coins was
feeling?
— No, daddy. I
didn’t think of
it. Sorry. Only
now am I able to
see how greedy
and ambitious I
was.
The little
shepherd, sorry,
nodded his head,
as tears shed.
— Forgive me,
daddy.
I know I made a
mistake and now
I understand
it.
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His dad stroke
his hair,
saying:
— My son, we got
to respect what
belongs to
others, so they
can respect what
is ours. Jesus,
our Master,
taught that we
would be held
responsible for
our acts and we
should do to
people only what
we wanted they
do to us. Now
think about it:
had you lost the
coins, what
would you like
people do to
you?
— I’d be very
glad if someone
gave me back the
bag, with the
coins, of
course!
— So, my son,
this is how we
should proceed.
The little
pastor thanked
the lesson he
took and
promised himself
he would never
do such thing
again.
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Aunt Célia
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