Gabriel was
invited to go to
Renato's house.
Renato was a
schoolmate who
lived in a
mansion in the
upscale
neighborhood of
the city.
Gabriel was
impressed
thinking: Oh!
How I would like
to live in a
house like this!
 |
He played a lot
with Renato,
which he
considered his
best friend.
They talked a
lot at school,
played together
and played on
the same
football team.
Upon returning
home, Gabriel
excitedly told
his mother what
they did, what
Renato's house
|
|
looked like, the
meals and
delicious sweets
he had eaten,
and ended by
saying: |
- It was very
good, Mom. Too
bad I cannot
return his
gesture – he
completed with a
sad face.
- And why not,
my dear? - the
mother asked,
surprised.
Gabriel bowed
his head, then
said:
- You know why,
mom. This home
is poor and in a
distant
neighborhood.
What can we
offer him?
- Our friendship,
warmth and
hospitality. Do
we need more?
You always
praise my
cooking,
Gabriel! So I
will cook some
tasty food for
lunch and make a
chocolate cake
and popcorn to
snack. What do
you think?
The boy smiled
at that great
proposal. Then
he asked
seriously:
- Mom, why must
it be so? Some
so rich while
others so poor?
It's unfair!
Elsa, seeing her
son's sad face,
snuggled him to
her chest with
affection and
said:
- My son, do not
be unfair to God,
our Father, who
has given us a
simple but very
good life. There
is a reason for
everything: if
we are poor
today, it is
that certainly
in the past, in
another life, we
did not use the
gift of wealth
wisely. It's a
test.
- Ah! Like at
school? That I
always do. It is
when we take
tests to see if
we learned the
lesson. Then,
Renato's family
is being tested
now?
- Yes. As it isn't
possible for all
to have a lot of
money, God
concentrates it
in the hands of
a few so they
have the
opportunity to
help those who
have nothing.
Then, the
positions are
reversed. Thus,
wealth is a test
of charity and
selflessness, do
you understand?
- More or less.
What is
selflessness,
mom?
-It's to
sacrifice
yourself on the
behalf of others;
it is to give
from what you
have to help the
needy.
- Ah! Got it.
And we who are
poor, what is
our test?
- The test of
patience and
resignation.
- Patience I
know what means,
because you
always say that
I have to have
it with my
little sister.
And what about
resignation?
- Resignation,
son, is when you
submit yourself
to the will of
another person
or to the will
of God; it is
acceptance
towards
something you
cannot change.
The boy thought
for a while, and
said:
- Do you mean
that we will
always be poor?!
...
- No, Gabriel.
We can always
exercise our
will to change
what we need.
For example: We
are poor because
your father did
not study and
earns little
money, having to
accept jobs
according to his
condition. You,
however, will
study and will
have the
opportunity to
get a degree and
earn a better
salary.
- Got it, Mom.
It will depend
on my effort and
willingness to
study. Now about
Renato: I
thought better
and decided to
invite him to
visit us
tomorrow.
The mother
hugged him
happily. The
next morning,
Gabriel made the
call and Renato
accepted. So,
after school,
Gabriel came
home with Renato
and introduced
him to his
mother.
- Nice to meet
you, dona1 Elsa!
I loved the
invitation and,
even more, to
come up here
walking. I like
to walk but I
can't because
our driver will
always pick me
up at school by
car.
The mother
exchanged a look
with Gabriel as
if to say: Didn't
I say he'd like
it?
 |
Lunch was great
and everyone ate
well. Then they
went out to play
in the backyard.
Seeing a woods
nearby, Renato
wanted to
explore it and
Gabriel took him
there.
Walking along a
track, they went
to the woods.
Delighted with
the trees,
flowers and
birds, Renato
walked around
breathing the
fresh air.
Suddenly he
heard the sound
of water and
Gabriel took him
to a stream that
ran serene
|
|
through the
rocks. |
|
Barefoot, they
stepped into the
cold water. What
a joy to Renato
who could never
do that! After
playing a lot in
the water and
running through
the woods, tired,
they returned
home.
|
From the front
door they could
already smell
the baked cake
and popcorn!
Cheerful, the
boys went into
the kitchen
where Gabriel's
mother awaited
them with a cup
of chocolate
milk as well as
those delights
that she had
prepared. While
eating, Renato
told her all
they had done
that afternoon,
and added: |
 |
- I saw fish
swimming in the
creek! So fast
and beautiful! I
loved it!
At the appointed
time, the car
arrived. Renato
thanked the lady
and his friend:
- Thank you. It
was the best
time I've ever
had in my entire
life! I would
like to live in
a beautiful
place well away
from the noise
of the city, the
car horns,
everything. Dona
Elsa, can I come
back again?
- Sure you can,
Renato! You will
always be
welcome in this
house, which is
simple and poor,
but where you
will be greeted
with great
affection. You
are a special
boy! Invite your
parents too. I
would love to
meet them!
Walking to the
car, they said
goodbye with a
hug. When
leaving, Renato
waved his hand
and smiled
happily. Elsa
hugged her son
and looked at
him, who
understood.
- You were right,
Mom. Renato
loved our house.
I also began to
see it with
different eyes.
I learned to
appreciate all
the good things
we have here.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
24/06/2013.)
1 In Brazilian
society, Dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman's first
name.
