The Best Gift
        
 

Gabriel was very worried. Children's Day was approaching and he had not yet discovered what he was going to get. He had given several suggestions to his parents, but they would just smile, pretending not to understand.

So that morning, Gabriel went to school with that "serious" problem in his mind . At recess, talking with colleagues, he wondered what they had asked as a present. After all, Children's Day was coming!

Each one gave a different answer. Lucius smiled slightly and said resignedly:

	- Gabriel, I never ask for anything. My father earns little money and we are glad when we have food on the table. Also, my mother is recovering from a serious illness. Thus, the fact of being together and healthy is already a great blessing. Another girl, Julia, who had remained with her head down, looked up and said:
- When my mother was pregnant with me, my father left her for not wanting to have a child. So I grew up without knowing a father figure. I am very grateful to my mother; if it wasn't for her maybe I would not even be born! But I would really love to have a father. If I could, I would just ask God for a father who loved me.

The others were silent for a moment, when Daniel considered:

- Julia, if you have a loving and there-for-you mother, you should consider yourself lucky. My parents divorced when I was three, leaving me with my grandmother to care for me. She's very good to me, but there is not one day when I don't miss my parents.

Thus, each one spoke of their problems and difficulties, which always had to do with family, money or diseases; when they had one thing, they did not have the other. Gabriel listened to them, surprised. Knowing his friends for years, he never imagined that they kept to themselves so much suffering.

At that moment, he heard that David asked him:

- And you, Gabriel, how is your life, what is your problem?

Hearing the question, he began to think about his life. He had never had problems. At home, there was no lacking of food, quite the opposite, there was an excess. His father earned well and he had everything he wanted: clothes, shoes, toys, books. His family was united and they loved each other.

Gabriel felt embarrassed before his peers. How would he tell them that he had no problems? He was about to answer the question when the bell rang and they had to return to the classroom. He felt relieved!

After that conversation Gabriel would never be the same. After school, he returned home, thoughtful.

At lunchtime, sitting around the table and smelling the good food that his mother had prepared with so much love, he, for the first time, asked to do the prayer.

- Lord Jesus, I thank you for the family that I was given, the house, the food we eat and, especially, the love that exists between us. So be it!

His parents looked at each other, surprised. They realized that Gabriel was moved, which was new. Usually, he only asked for things, demanded walks and gifts. Then, after the meal, the father smiled and asked the children:

- What is it that you would like as a gift on Children's Day?

The little ones asked for a toy car and a doll. As Gabriel remained silent, his father insisted:

- And you, my son, have you chosen what you want?

The boy thought for a moment and replied firmly:

- Nothing, Dad. I do not want anything. I already have everything I need.

Astonished, the parents looked at each other again, and the mother recalled:

- But just yesterday you wanted a lot of things, my son! What happened that made you change your mind?

The boy then told them what he and his friends had talked at school, the difficulties of each one, which the parents heard pitifully. Gabriel concluded by stating:

- Mom! Dad! Only today I realized how happy I am. Each of my colleagues has serious problems, whether in the family, not having enough money or because of a disease. When they have something, they lack something else! So, listening to them, I noticed how my life is good. I have a loving family and I lack nothing. I come home and have enough to eat without having to worry of being supported. No one here has serious health problems. Anyway, I have everything I need. I lack nothing. This is the

greatest gift that God gave me!

The parents were thrilled. Gabriel, with moist eyes, ran to hug his parents and siblings. Then, wiping away the tears, he decided:

- Today I realized how selfish I have been! I could not see anything of what was happening around me. For years I met with my friends without knowing how they lived. Now I want to help them. Really be a friend, not just a colleague. They need affection, attention. In other words, I want to be different from now on.

- My son! You now have also given us a great gift. To see you more mature and aware, concerned with others, makes us very happy.

A wave of peace and love involved all. With hearts full of hope, they raised their thoughts to Jesus, confident and gratefully.
 

MEIMEI
 

(Psychographed by Celia Xavier de Camargo on 26/09/2011.)