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Spiritism for
Kids
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Célia Xavier
Camargo -
Portuguese
Spanish |
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Year 5 - N°
250 - March 4,
2012
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Translation
Johnny Silveira
- silveirajohnny@yahoo.com |
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The Basketball
Player
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Back home after
training, Mike
sunk in deep
revolt. He loved
to play
basketball, but
he was not
valued by his
teammates.
He dreamed of
being a great
player, being
hailed on the
court, known and
admired by all.
However, his
teammates did
not believe in
him because he
was only
thirteen
years-old.
Arriving at
home, he threw
his backpack on
a chair and went
to the kitchen
where his mother
had lunch ready.
The family had
already gathered
around the
table. He sat
down sullenly,
saying nothing.
His twin
sisters, aged
sixteen, looked
at him, then to
their father,
noticing their
brother's odd
behaviour.
Five year-old
Julius, however,
with his
childlike voice
asked:
- What bug bit
you today,
Mike? -
repeating a
phrase his
mother used when
one of the
children was
angry.
The others
laughed, but
Mike reddened
with anger:
- Be quiet, you
brat! Otherwise
I'll...
- Relax,
Mike. Let us eat
in peace - his
father
intervened,
calming him
down.
The mother
finished putting
the dishes on
the table and
sat down too.
One of the
sisters said a
little prayer of
thanks to God
for the day and
the food.
Mike lowered his
head and ate in
silence. When he
finished, he
excused himself
and got up. His
mother looked at
him, because it
was customary to
wait for the
others finish
eating. But the
father gave a
sign to his wife
as if to say:
"Let him
go. He's not
well."
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The boy went to
his room and
stayed there
sulking. After
dinner, the
father went to
his son's
room. He found
him in bed with
his head
covered.
Calmly, sitting
on the bed, he
said:
- My son,
something
happened today
that upset
you. If I can
help you, I'll
be very happy.
Hearing his
father's kind
words, the boy
uncovered his
face, now wet
with tears and
blurted:
- You know what
happened,
Dad? My
teammates don't
trust me! They
don't believe
that I can make
good shots in
the game and
they almost
never pass me
the ball!
... And I want
to be a great
player! I can't
take it
anymore!...
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The father
thought for a
moment, and then
considered: |
- Mike, there is
a teaching of
Jesus that says,
"He who would
like to be the
greatest in the
kingdom of
heaven be the
servant of all."
- Oh, Dad!
... You come
with this
conversation
now? ...
The father
smiled,
understanding:
- I am serious,
son! This lesson
from Jesus
serves not only
to those who
want to reach
the Kingdom of
God, but also
for our life
here on Earth.
Check it out! To
achieve what we
want, we must
show our
abilities. Nobody
is born a great
player. They
become good
players with
training and
experience.
Thus, people
recognize that
you are good at
what you do, you
know?
- You mean, that
before anything
else, I should
show it through
my work.
-
Exactly! Recognition
is only a
consequence. Each
player must play
their part. Only
then will the
team really be a
team.
- And how do I
do that, Dad?
- Think about it
and you will
figure it out -
said the father,
getting up and
leaving the
room.
Mike thought
about
it... thought
about it ... and
understood. He
went to bed full
of hope. The
following day
there would
training again.
At the appointed
time he went to
court. As he had
said he no
longer wanted to
play, the others
were surprised
with his
presence.
- What are you
doing here,
Mike? - asked
one of them.
Mike humbly
approached his
friend with a
smile and asked:
- Could you give
me another
chance?
The others
gladly agreed
because without
him they would
be missing one
player.
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As the game
started, Mike
proved to be
quite different.
He did not
demand that they
passed him the
ball, and when
that happened,
he would pass it
to a teammate
who was in a
better position
to make the
point, improving
the performance
of the
team. Thus, they
won the game.
They were all
happy and
celebrated with
a snack in the
cafeteria. Mike
now realized
that his
teammates looked
at him in a
friendlier
manner.
At night, when
his father came
home from work,
he |
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found
his son
happy. |
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- So, my son,
how was your
day?
- It was great,
Dad! I
understood the
lesson and think
Jesus is right.
It worked!Being
the servant of
all, we grow and
the team
improves. The
share of each
player is small,
but
essential. Now
we are a team!
Thank you!
They exchanged a
warm hug, and
after his mother
called letting
them know that
dinner was
ready, they ate
in an atmosphere
of peace and
joy. Mike wanted
to do the
prayer:
- Dear Jesus!
Your lessons are
tips to our life
at any time and
at any
hour. Thank you
for the day and
the family we
have!
Mike grew up,
became a
well-known and
admired man by
those who knew
him. His passion
for basketball
faded away, but
over the years
he always
maintained a
dignified and
respectable
posture which
testified his
love for
Jesus. A
follower of the
Gospel, he
showed himself
humble,
friendly,
helpful and kind
to everyone. And
he never ceased
to appreciate,
in any activity,
the importance
of the team.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia Xavier
de Camargo on
13.02.2012.)
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