Six year-old
Luana was very
sad. Her father,
Ruben, would
always arrive at
home very angry
and yelling at
everyone. He did
not forgive the
slightest
mistake and was
always fighting
with Dora,
Luana's mother,
and blaming her
for their
problems.
When Luana,
following his
example, fought
with Mark, her
three year-old
brother, her
father called
her and holding
her arms, said:
- My dear, you
can't fight with
your brother. He
is much younger
than you. You
must understand
that you know
more than him,
that you already
go to school,
learn from your
teacher and must
apply what you
learn. Get it?
- But Mark
breaks my toys,
destroys my
books and
scribbles on my
notebooks with
crayons! I
explain to him
that he shouldn't
do that, but he
doesn't listen
to me!
- But, Luana,
you must have
patience with
him. Mark doesn't
know what he's
doing!
- I know, Dad -
the girl said
lowering her
head.
|
A few days later
her father came
home very angry.
He had had a
problem in the
office and was
puffing with
anger. With his
face red and his
eyes darting
sparks, he
shouted at his
wife for have
stumbled on a
rug she left by
the door. He
threw his
briefcase on the
couch and
gestured,
shouting:
- You see, Dora?
I almost took a
tumble because
of you. And is
dinner ready?
- Almost, dear.
I spent a few
minutes talking
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with dona1 Amelia,
our neighbor who
needed some help,
so I'm running
late. |
- See? While I
work, you spend
your time
talking to the
neighbors! Go
finish the
dinner. I am
hungry.
Upset, the lady
left the room
and returned to
the kitchen. At
this point,
there was a
knock on the
front door.
Luana went to
open it and saw
a well dressed
gentleman who
smiled at her
and asked:
- Is your father
at home, little
girl?
- Yes, sir. He
just arrived. I'll
call him. Come
in, please.
But the father,
hearing that
familiar voice
was already
approaching them
with a broad
smile on his
face.
- Mr. Alberto,
what a pleasure
to welcome you
here in our home!
Welcome! Please,
sit down!
- Thank you,
Ruben, but
unfortunately I
can't. I would
love to meet
your family, but
a problem came
up at the
factory and I
need to travel
immediately
because of
work.
- Ah! If I can
help, Mr.
Alberto, I am at
your disposal.
If you'd like
it, I can go.
- Thanks, Ruben,
but only I can
solve the
problem. I came
to you just to
leave the key to
the vault of the
office, since no
one else has one.
I'll come back
tomorrow night
without fail.
Please, tell the
other employees,
ok?
Then he said
goodbye and
Ruben
accompanied him
to the gate,
smiling and
waving as the
car pulled away.
Luana, who
watched
everything was
open-mouthed.
Her dad's change
was so sudden
that the girl
could not
understand it.
Seeing that his
daughter did not
take her gaze
off of him,
Ruben smiled:
- What happened,
Luana?
The girl thought
for a moment and
replied:
- I was
surprised, Dad,
with your change
when the man
arrived. Is he
much younger
than you?
- I don't
understand the
reason for your
question, my
dear.
- Oh, it's that
when I get mad
at Mark, you say
I have to be
patient with him
because he is
younger!
The father
suddenly blushed,
embarrassed in
front of his
daughter and
tried to
explain:
- You know,
Luana... many
times Dad is
upset and can't
control
himself.
 |
- But with your
boss you
controlled
yourself and
treated him very
well and gently,
while with mom,
who did nothing,
you behaved
quite different.
You know, Dad,
my Gospel For
Kids' teacher
taught us that
at any situation
when we do not
know what to do,
we must remember
Jesus and think:
What |
|
would Jesus
do if He were in
my place? So -
she said - we
will never have
trouble with
anyone. |
The father heard
his daughter,
and was even
more ashamed to
see that his
wife listened to
the conversation
leaning in the
kitchen doorway.
He had no choice
but to agree
with her:
- Your teacher
is right, Luana.
I confess that I
have really
acted very badly
with our family.
The fact that I
arrive home
tired from work
does not justify
the irritation
tantrums that I
always have here
at home,
especially with
your mother.
|
He paused for a
moment, called
his wife and son
who heard from a
distance, and
involving
everyone in a
big hug,
promised:
- Starting today
I'll be a better,
more
affectionate,
calmer man who
is present in
the life of his
family that he
loves so much.
Especially,
asking myself
what would Jesus
do in my place.
Thank you, dear,
for the lesson
you taught me
today.
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- Thank Jesus,
Dad. |
|
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
10/06/2013.)
1 In
Brazilian
society, dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman's first
name.
