Twelve year-old
Leonard was a
very
intelligent,
studious boy who
enjoyed
learning. Whenever
something
unknown came his
way, curious, he
would try to get
more
information.
He was always
with a book in
hand, reading,
or taking apart
a broken
appliance to
familiarize
himself with the
parts and get to
know how it
worked to try
and fix it.
At school he was
always the top
student in the
class and his
classmates
admired him.
 |
However,
Leonard
had a
serious
imperfection:
he did
not like
to share
what he
knew. When
a friend
asked
him for
help in
any
subject,
claiming
not to
have
understood
it
right,
he would
respond
smugly:
- I will
not! Go
study,
lazy
fool! Take
the book
and
read!
And so
would
happen
every
time
someone
asked
for
help. He
was
never
available. |
Gradually,
because of his
pride and
selfishness, he
drove his
colleagues and
friends away.
Feeling lonely,
Leonard thought
it was strange
their attitude
and one day said
to his mother,
upset:
- Mother, I do
not know what
happened! No one
comes to me
anymore! My
friends do not
come over or
invite me to
play! I wonder
what happened
?!...
The mother, who
knew her son and
his ways well,
considered:
- My son,
several times I
saw your
colleagues seek
your help and
you always
refused. Could
that be the
reason they
became so upset?
And Leonard
replied, very
angry:
- And you think
I should help
them? They have
the same books
and receive the
same lessons I
do! Why don't
they learn? The
truth is that
they do not like
to study!
|
 |
|
- Leonard, it is
not laziness. It
is just that not
everyone has the
same facility as
you. People are
different; many
do not
understand what
is being
explained in
class. |
- Do you really
think so,
mother? - asked
the boy
thoughtfully.
- I do. And you
know what
else? Would
anyone light a
lamp and put it
under the table?
- Of course not,
mother!
- That is why
Jesus once said
that no one
lights a lamp
and put it under
the table, but
on it, so that
it will
illuminate
everyone. This
light that Jesus
tells us about
is knowledge, my
son. What good
is it to know
much if we, very
selfishly, do
not share it
with those we
know?
For a few
moments the boy
was silent and
thoughtful, then
he said:
- Got it,
Mom. It's like
teachers do,
right? There are
people from all
areas to share
their knowledge
with others,
which, in turn,
will pass on to
others ... I had
never thought of
that!
- Yes, my
son. We share
what we have,
and receive what
others have to
teach us. There
is always a
constant
exchange between
people.
Leonard went on
thinking and
thinking. He
needed a way to
change that
situation that
he himself had
created.
He was
cheerful. His
mother's words
had warned him
about his
behaviour and he
wanted to change
but did not know
how. Until later
that night, when
saying his
prayers, he
asked Jesus for
help.
Leonard awoke
the next morning
knowing what to
do: as he had
driven his
friends away,
now it was him
who had to take
the first step
towards
reconciliation.
Thus thinking,
he went to the
house of a
friend to
apologize for
his actions and
invite him to a
football
game. And when
his friend asked
when, Leonard
explained:
- It will be on
January 1st ! We
will start the
New Year with
the right foot.
New year, new
life!
 |
And everybody
was invited. On
the 1st, meeting
at the football
field where they
used to play,
they divided the
teams and
started the
game.
It was a joy to
be together
again. They
missed Leonard.
When the game
ended the score
was
3-1. Leonard's
team had
lost. But it did
not matter. He
was happy, and
told his
friends:
|
|
- My mother is
waiting for us
at home for a
snack. Shall we? |
Everyone clapped
hands. They were
tired but
excited. They
spent the
afternoon
together, eating
sandwiches, cake
and drinking
juice. They
played, ran and
had fun. One of
them asked:
- Leonard, you
are
different! What
happened?
And he said:
- I have
changed,
Louis. Before, I
thought everyone
should learn as
easily as I do
and, often
times, I treated
you badly. Now I
know that
everything we
have should be
shared with
others. It is a
constant
exchange: you
give and
receive. Everything
in the world
works that
way! When that
it does not
happen, it is as
the plough that
by not being
used is corroded
by rust, or the
food we keep but
ends up rotten,
or the clothes
that we do not
use and are
eaten away by
moths,
etc... And so it
happens to what
we know, if not
shared, it ends
up being
lost. Look at
Jesus! He gave
of himself
completely and
received nothing
from men, but
his lessons
remain to this
day illuminating
our path. We owe
it to the
generosity of
our Master.
Everyone stared
in awe and
respect to hear
him speak that
way. In the end,
the friends
embraced
happily. They
were united
again and it was
very good!
The New Year
began bringing
peace, joy and
friendship among
all. And they
understood that,
provided there
is goodwill,
everything can
be changed for
the better in
our lives,
especially if we
consider the
lesson of
generosity.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
12/12/2011.)
