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Spiritism for Kids - Célia Xavier Camargo - Portuguese  Spanish
Year 2 - N° 74 - September 21, 2008

  Translation
FELIPE DARELLA - felipe.darella@gmail.com
 

The unhappy servant 

 

Once upon a time in a far away country, there was a man who was always unhappy.

All work was hard and unpleasant. He wouldn’t like to do anything and any minor job he was told to do was done improperly.

He kept whining and turned out to be a persona non grata even with his relatives.

If he was told to treat and feed the horses, he complained  about the smell of the animals.  If

he had to run some errands in the city, he said he was not feeling well. If he had to gather the herd when it was getting dark, he said the fog was harmful to his health.  

After all, any task that was conferred on him was badly accomplished, even though he had a healthy body and strong arms. 

One day, another servant and he were sent to the city to do a job, and, as usual, he went on complaining about his life. 

— So, this is it. The dirty work is always on me. I always get the hardest things and, as if it were not enough, I feel my body badly hurt. I can’t stand it anymore! 

The other one replied, patiently: 

— It is not like that, my friend. We all work hard, that’s true. But we are rewarded, because our boss is good and generous. We can’t complain. Furthermore, every job is a blessing from God. 

— Nonsense! We are treated like animals and work our socks off to earn little money. Ah! I wish I had a different life, not needed to work! 

And they saw on the road, further ahead, a man sitting under a tree, in front of a little gate which led to a simple but clean house, he pointed at him and said:

— Take a look at that man over there, calmly sitting. I bet he has no problems. And, to be sitting at this time of the day, he is not supposed to be working. Now, this is life! 

They came closer. The man looked at them peacefully. As it was a bit cold, he had a worn-out scarf, but clean.  

They started a conversation, and the unhappy servant inquired: 

— Tell me, good man, what do you do for a living? You definitely don’ need to! Ah, I envy you! 

The stranger looked at him and said: 

— That’s true. I don’t work as I used to because I can’t. I’ve always been a hard-working man. I would get home exhausted, but happy, because I had worked properly. One day, though, I was taking a wagon to the village when I suffered an accident. The horses got scared and the wagon lost control. I tried

to deter the animals, which broke loose, so I jumped on them and got between them, holding them with my fists. But suddenly I lost balance, and fell over. I got really hurt, but thanks God, I’m still alive. 

And, as he paused, he uncovered his legs, saying: 

— I have no legs now, but I never complained. I can still do many things, I tell you. I still have two arms, quick fingers and a sensible mind. I told you I don’t work as I used to... 

And, pointing with his hand, he showed a happy boy who came closer bringing some straw. 

— I now make these baskets to sell. My son helps me out and we have been living off it. 

And he said, emotionally: 
 

— God is very kind! I have a loving family, I can still work e andI am alive because of His grace. As you can see, I have everything I need to be happy. 

The unhappy servant got his head down, ashamed of his behavior. Touched, he went away meditating on all the blessings God had given him and he always took for granted. 

From this day on he became another man. With good nature and happiness he accomplished all his tasks, always thanking God the opportunities we have in life.

                                                    Aunt Célia 
 



O Consolador
 
Weekly Magazine of Spiritism