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Spiritism for
Kids
-
Célia Xavier
Camargo -
Portuguese
Spanish |
Year 5 - N°
254 - April 1,
2012
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Translation
Johnny Silveira
- silveirajohnny@yahoo.com |
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The Dream of
Raul
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In a very poor
and dry area,
there was a
place where a
farmer lived
with his wife
and son. At the
farm, there was
only a small hut
and a vegetable
garden, from
which he was
able to support
his family. The
rest of the
vegetables
harvested was
sold in the
village or
exchanged for
what they needed
most.
Set in his ways,
Joseph was
satisfied. They
lacked nothing. However,
little Raul,
growing up, went
to study at the
village school. Seeing
the difference
between the
other
neighbouring
properties and
the farm where
they lived, one
day he said:
- Dad, why don't
we plant some
trees? Everywhere
here on the farm
is like a desert. At
least we would
have some shade
to cool down
from the hot sun!
- Nonsense, my
son! What for? A
tree takes a
long time to
grow and provide
shade. I do not
have time for it
- said the
father.
- But if we
don't plant them,
they will never
grow, dad. Moreover,
we can plant
fruit trees, and
when they start
producing, we
can sell the
fruits! - the
boy insisted.
Joseph ran his
hat in his hand,
thoughtfully,
and replied:
- Not worth it,
son. It will
take a long
time! ...
The boy, however,
kept the idea in
his head. The
next day, coming
back home after
school, he saw a
tree sapling by
the roadside. Gently,
he used his
hands to remove
the dirt around
the plant,
protecting its
fragile roots.
Then, gently, he
led the sapling
to the farm and
chose a place
far away from
the house, so
his father could
not see it and
there he planted
his seedling.
Raul felt great
affection for
it. It was his
first tree!
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After that day,
he watered it
every morning. Watching
it grow was a
joy. And Raul
continued to
plant the tree
seedlings that
he found by the
roadside. |
His friends,
knowing that he
was looking for
seedlings of
fruit trees, the
next day began
to bring them.
One said:
- Raul, I found
this seedling of
an orange tree
at home and
brought it to
you!
- Look what a
beautiful mango
tree seedling! When
I saw it, it
reminded me of
you! - said
another.
- Look, Raul! My
mother sent you
this apple tree
as a gift! -
showed another.
Very happy, he
thanked his
friends:
- Thank you! With
these plants you
brought me I
will start my
orchard!
And so,
gradually, Raul
was watching his
trees grow in
number and size. Soon,
he had a small
copse of trees
and a bit
farther away, in
this special
place, the
orchard.
Joseph had
noticed the
child's movement,
but paid no
attention,
thinking: It is
a kid's thing.
He will soon
forget about it! |
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However, as Raul
grew, his trees
grew too. After
some time, they
were strong and
tall, reaching
to the sky. But
the stubborn
father was never
interested.
One day, after
work, Joseph
decided to go
have a closer
look at the work
of his son and
was surprised.
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Getting near the
woods, he could
even feel the
air was
different,
lighter and
fresher. Slowly
he walked under
the trees, some
larger, some
smaller, whose
branches almost
did not let in
the sun.
The soil, dry
and naked before,
now appeared to
be covered by
vegetation, with
only a small
trail where Raul
used pass. |
Astonished, he
could see the
colourful
flowers, smell
their scents and
hear the birds
singing,
rejoicing in the
afternoon. Suddenly,
he heard someone
approaching. He
did not need to
see him to know
it was Raul.
Joseph's eyes
were moist with
emotion:
- You worked
hard, my son,
and your forest
is beautiful!
Raul, now a tall
and thin
thirteen
year-old boy,
smiled.
- This is
nothing, Dad. Come
see our orchard!
He took his
father to where
the fruit trees
were. Surprised,
Joseph saw
orange trees,
apple trees,
mango trees,
blackcurrant
trees, lemon
trees and many
more. All of
them big and
close to the
time to bear
fruit, some were
even already
loaded!
With his eyes
shining with
excitement,
Joseph looked
everything. Then
he turned to
Raul and
acknowledged:
- You were right,
son! It was me
that, blind and
ignorant, could
not admit I was
wrong. But how
did you do all
this? There are
species here
that I do not
even know! ...
The son smiled
with
satisfaction,
saying:
- Father, this
work is the
collaboration of
many people! My
friends helped
alongside with
their mothers
and also the
teachers and
even strangers
who, upon
hearing what I
was doing,
collaborated
with different
seedlings. And
also my mother,
who helped
planting and
caring for the
flowers. I am
grateful to all
those people!
The father was
surprised to
learn that his
wife had helped
without his
knowledge. Then,
after becoming
thoughtful for a
few seconds, he
eventually
acknowledged:
- But there's
one thing all
these people
could not give
you, my son.
- What, Dad?
- Perseverance. If
it was not for
your willingness
to work,
persisting in
your intention
to accomplish
it, none of this
would exist.
Emotional, they
exchanged a warm
hug. Wiping away
the tears, Raul
said:
- Dad, I had a
dream of
improving our
farm, making it
a more pleasant
place to live. I
wanted you to
believe that
with our effort,
we could live
better and feel
happier. But
what I wanted
most was that
you were proud
of me. Now, we
have to think
about how to
sell the fruits
we began to
produce. We can
also increase
the orchard and
...
Thus, talking
and hugging each
other, they
walked back home. The
mother, seeing
them arrive,
went to meet
them. Joseph,
now more
flexible,
already had
plans in his
mind: to fill
the house with
flowers, make a
garden and plant
some trees. Everything
would be more
beautiful and
enjoyable!
Mother and son
exchanged a
smile, inwardly
thanking God for
the changes that
He put in their
lives through
the dream of a
child.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
12.03.2012.)
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