Lyle was a very
selfish boy. In
all situations,
he would only
think of
himself.
One day at
school, the
teacher gave the
students a text
to read and then
explain what
they had
understood.
Lyle saw a word
he did not know
and asked:
- Teacher, what
does selfishness
mean?
The teacher
scanned the
class and
asked:
- Does anyone
know what
selfishness
means?
 |
Lucius, one of
the students,
raised his
hand:
- I do, teacher!
My mother
explained to me
that selfishness
is the quality
of a person who
only thinks of
themselves. They
only care about
their own
interests and
desires.
-
Congratulations,
Lucius! That's
right. Selfish
is the person
who does not
share anything
with anyone,
|
|
and if
they
have to
share
something,
they
always
choose
the best
part for
themselves. |
The whole class
clapped hands
congratulating
Lucius, the
smartest student
in the room.
Lyle, however,
lowered his
head, worried
and thinking:
So, am I
selfish? ...
Another student,
Lilly, wanted to
know:
- Teacher, but
why being
selfish is bad?
- Because the
person becomes
very unhappy. As
they only think
of themselves,
they end up
having no
friends and when
they do, over
time these leave
them. Nobody
likes people who
only think about
themselves,
because we end
up realizing
that they do not
like anyone but
themselves!
The bell rang
and the students
left the room
quickly, in a
hurry to get
home.
Lyle packed up
and left too.
Still
remembering what
the teacher had
said, he
realized that
his classmates
went out in
groups, and did
not even
remember to wait
for him, leaving
him behind.
He got home
serious and
thoughtful. His
mother wanted to
know what had
happened.
- Nothing, Mom.
Nothing
happened.
|
- So come have
lunch, dear.
Your father and
sister have
already
arrived.
Sitting at the
table, Lyle was
still worried
and asked:
- Daddy, if
someone is not
satisfied with
themselves, can
they change?
|
 |
- Sure, son! We
can change at
any time. All it
takes is the
willingness to
change and
perseverance to
keep our good
intentions.
Hearing this,
Lyle thought:
Tomorrow I will
start to change.
I do not want to
be selfish.
Right then Katya,
his little
sister, asked
him to pour
juice into her
glass. Lyle
grabbed the jar
and would serve
himself first,
filling his cup.
But remembering
his willingness
to change, he
decided to start
at that time.
So he handed a
full cup to his
sister, and only
then pour
himself some
juice.
After lunch, the
mother brought
in the dessert.
It was a pudding
that Lyle loved!
As there was not
much left, he
took his plate
and went for it,
thinking of
having all of
it. However, a
light went on in
his little head
and remembering
his selfishness
he served
himself a small
portion. The
mother, who knew
him well, said:
-
Congratulations,
Lyle! You have
done well. You
thought not only
of yourself, but
everyone in the
family.
Lyle was
satisfied. His
sister looked at
him with
different eyes,
smiling and
admiring him.
Later on, Lyle's
sister asked him
if she could
borrow one of
his toys. He was
about to refuse,
but thought
better and went
personally to
his bedroom to
fetch the toy,
which he handed
to his sister.
Glad, she gave
him a hug full
of affection,
and said:
- I love you, my
dear brother!
Lyle's heart
seemed to
increase in size
with joy.
At that moment,
he understood
why those who
are selfish keep
people away.
Nobody likes
people who only
think of
themselves,
while love
brings people
together, making
them happy with
the exchange of
good feelings.
The next day,
Lyle went to
school feeling
more smug. That
good feeling
that he had in
his heart,
seemed to
involve all of
his classmates,
because they
were all
approaching him
to talk.
At one point,
Tom came up and
asked:
- Lyle, can I
borrow your pen?
Mine isn't
working and I
don't have a
spare.
Immediately Lyle
handed it to his
classmate,
saying:
- You can have
it, Tom. I have
another in my
backpack.
His classmates
exchanged a look
full of surprise
because Lyle was
not one to act
kindly, and
Lucius asked:
- You are
different today,
Lyle. What
happened?
- I found out
that being
selfish is very
sad. It
alienates
people. Only
love brings us
closer to each
other. Thus I
understand why
Jesus said we
should do to
others what we
want others to
do to us. This
is the recipe
for happiness!
The classmates
hugged happily.
A different
feeling united
them. Now they
were not just
classmates. They
were friends!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
12.11.2012.)
