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Once upon a time
there was a man
who had a very
tiny piece of
land, but the
soil was fertile.
He had a
profound faith.
He would always
pray to God for
the creation of
the world and
the nature
around him.
The neighbour
land was owned
by a very poor
man, who was
working very
hard. He didn’t
own much, but
never had the
time to think
about God
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because he
worked so hard.
He believed on
his
personal
effort,
and in
anything
his arms
were
able to
achieve. |
Since sun rise
to sun set he
was there.
Working in the
field, cleaning
it up and
seeding it. His
neighbour would
criticise him
for the lack of
religion and
say:
– I don’t know
how come you
don’t pray to
God! Look at the
beautiful sky,
nature and all
gifts He has
given us! I
thank God
everyday and ask
Him to help me
because I know
he will listen
to my prayers.
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The incredulous
one would smile,
agreed with his
head and excuse
himself:
– Now I have no
time to pray.
The sun is
setting and I
need to water
the
vegetable-garden
and feed the
chickens.
The believer
would sit there,
feeling sorry
for the
disbeliever. He
sat under a tree
and contemplate
the first starts that were
raising in the
sky,
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astonished
by the beauty of
Creation. Time
past by and the
believer’s
property change
its aspect.
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Where he had a
beautiful
plantation
before, there
was only thicket
taking over,
suffocating the
few seeds that
were trying to
grow. The fence
was broken and
the
vegetable-garden
destroyed by the
chickens and
birds who would
eat it.
The orchard was
left with no
care. Fruit fall
down and since
no one clean it,
they ended up
rotting at the
floor and were
full of worms
and insects.
After all, it
looked abandoned.
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On the property
next door,
everything
looked different.
The plants were
well looked
after, and made
its owner really
happy. The
vegetables were
growing steadly,
providing food.
It produced so
much the excess
in production
was sold at the
local market.
The fruit would
givem him a good
profit. With
this money, he
managed to look
after the ranch
by painting it
and buying some
cows.
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The believer
could not
understand what
was going on,
and asked the
disbeliever:
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– I don’t know
why my property
is going to bad
whilst yours is
going so well. I
am a strong
believer in God.
I have always
followed my
religious
beliefs and
never forgot to
ask Jesus for
help.
He then paused
and asked, a bit
disappointed:
– Has he
forgotten me?
The incredulous
said:
– Cherish God is
very important,
but I believe He
never forgot to
work. You said
my land was not
very prosperous,
but all I know
is that I worked
very hard. I
looked after the
soil, making it
fertile and
increasing the
production. With
the stones I
took from the
land, I created
a stronger fence
that would
resist the
harrassment of
the animals.
He then paused
and said:
– I didn’t have
much time to
dedicate to God,
but I believe
you forgot a
very important
lesson from
Jesus, who you
said you love so
much.
– What is it? –
the believer
asked.
– Held yourself
and heaven will
help you!
He then felt
ashamed and
recognised the
neighbour was
right. He judged
to be so
superior to his
neighbour. Now
he was learning
something new
from him.
He then
understool it is
important to
have faith in
God, but that’s
not enough. It’s
important to
transform the
lessons learned
in actions. The
Gospel of Jesus
was only at his
thoughts but not
at his heart.
He needed
someone, who
didn’t have time
to cheerish God,
to open his eyes
to the
unforgettable
lesson from
Jesus:
– Held yourself
and heaven will
help you!
Aunt Celia
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