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Spiritism for
Kids
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Célia Xavier
Camargo -
Portuguese
Spanish |
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Year 7 - N° 348 – February 2, 2014 |
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Translation
Johnny Silveira
- silveirajohnny@yahoo.com |
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The Boy Who
Begged For Alms
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Eight year-old
Tulio lived in a
nice house, had
loving parents,
constantly
received many
gifts and his
wants were
always satisfied.
Being treated
with much love,
Tulio grew up
thinking he was
entitled to
everything. At
school he would
treat his
classmates badly,
especially those
who came from a
poor family.
His parents
tried to guide
him, showing him
that the fact of
having good
living
conditions did
not give him the
right to look
down on others.
However, Tulio
would listen to
and agree with
his parents, but
would not act
differently.
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One day, coming
home from school,
Tulio saw a
beggar sitting
on the sidewalk.
Seeing Tulio
approaching, the
boy asked:
- Spare change,
for the love of
God!
Tulio looked at
the boy who
dared to speak
to him and
replied:
- Aren't you
ashamed of
begging, boy?
Leave me alone!
The boy looked
at Tulio,
noticed the
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immaculate
school uniform
he wore and his
eyes filled with
tears but he
said nothing. He
just lowered his
head and walked
away. |
When he got home,
unable to forget
the look in the
beggar's eyes,
Tulio said:
- Mom, imagine
that as I was
coming home from
school a dirty
and ragged boy
asked me for
money! I had a
coin left over
from lunch but
of course I did
not give it!...
Why won't he
work to have
money?
The mother heard
it full of
compassion,
looked at her
son and
considered:
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- Ah...! My son,
you know nothing
of life. Thanks
to God we have
everything we
need and lack
nothing, however
your father
works hard to
give us what we
need: this house,
school for you,
food, good
clothes and
everything you
want. Have you
ever imagined
the situation of
that kid who
begs for a
living?
- I did not
think about
it... I figured
he had a family,
a house... like
us! - Tulio
responded, his
eyes widening.
- Tulio, nobody
gets to ask for
alms if they do
not need to! It
is a
sign
that he
has
nothing
at home,
that is
if he
has a
home and
a family.
He must
live in
misery,
my son! |
- Do you think
so, Mom?
- When you find
him again, do
not judge. Give
him something.
Jesus said on
one occasion
that "to whom
much is given,
much will be
asked." This
means that for
people like us
who have
everything, much
will be required.
That is, if we
have been given
much by God, we
must share our
blessings with
others who are
in need. Get it?
Yes, Tulio had
understood. At
that moment, he
remembered that
the boy had
asked for alms
in the name of
God!
The next day,
while passing by
that street, he
heard the boy
say with his
head down:
- Spare change,
for the love of
God!
Embarrassed,
Tulio took a
coin from his
pocket and
handed it to the
beggar. The boy
looked up and
thanked him with
moist eyes. Then
Tulio stopped
and asked his
name. The boy,
grateful for the
attention, said:
- My name is
Renato. |
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Tulio sat on the
sidewalk next to
him and they
started talking.
Thus, he learned
that Renato had
a family but his
father drank
heavily and
could not work;
his mother was a
cleaner but
earned too
little to
support the
family. However,
he had four
siblings, and
only him, by
being ten years
old, could go
outside alone to
beg. And the boy
concluded:
- But I do not
complain of life,
no. God has
given us
everything we
need to live. I
know people who
have more
difficult lives
than ours.
Tulio was moved
and not ashamed
of his moist
eyes.
- Renato, I ask
your forgiveness.
The other day I
judged you for
begging. Now I
understand your
difficulties and
want to help you.
- There's no
need, Tulio. You've
helped me today
and I'm happy.
Thanks - the boy
replied.
- Please tell me
where you live,
Renato. Not for
you but for your
siblings! -
Tulio insisted.
The boy nodded
and gave him the
address while
Tulio wrote it
on a piece of
paper and then
said goodbye. At
home, Tulio told
his parents
Renato's story,
which had
impressed him so
deeply.
His parents were
pleased to see
the child's
concern with the
beggar and
promised to
visit him. At
the weekend,
they brought a
box full of
groceries and
another with
clothes for the
children.
The joy of
Renato's family
was huge,
because those
things would
ease their
misery. They all
became friends,
and Tulio's
father talking
with Renato's
father,
convinced him to
seek help with a
group that helps
alcoholics.
For that family,
after some time,
everything
changed. Joseph,
Tulio's father,
got a job for
Renato's mother,
and when his
father stopped
drinking,
employed him in
his company.
Both families,
now friends,
would always
meet and it was
with gratitude
that Renato said:
- You are true
friends. When I
asked Tulio for
some change in
the name of God,
I felt it really
was the Lord who
helped us. Thank
you!
Blessings from
higher spheres
descended on
those families
now so united,
and Joseph said,
smiling:
- It is just
that when we do
something with
love, God is
always present!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
04/11/2013.)
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