Ten year-old
Lucius was
always
complaining that
he did not have
time for
anything. When
his mother asked
him if he had
homework to do,
he responded:
- Yes, but now I
have no time for
it. I'm playing.
Later the mother
would came back
to ask:
- Honey, have
you done your
homework?
- No, Mom. I
will do it later;
now I'm watching
TV!
And so he would
procrastinate
with everything
that was really
important. One
day, his teacher
Meire sent a
message to his
home asking
Lucius' mother
to come to
school in the
afternoon.
Surprised, his
mother confirmed
her attendance. |
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When Lucius got
home his mother
wanted to know
how his morning
had been. The
boy looked at
her and replied:
- OK!
After lunch, his
mother made an
excuse and went
to school.
Meire, who was
waiting for her,
took her to the
staff room and
after they had
sat down, the
teacher asked:
- Alzira, what
is happening
with Lucius? He
has not been
doing his
homework and is
not studying for
his exams,
claiming that he
does not have
the time. I
wonder if this
is true, because
the situation is
serious. His
grades are very
low!
The mother, who
listened with
wide eyes,
replied:
- I did not know
it was that bad!
When I ask him
about his
exames, Lucius
says the teacher
still has not
given him the
grades nor
handed out the
report card.
- Not true. Try
to talk to your
child and find
out what is
happening. I'm
worried, Alzira!
- Given what you
said, me too!
Thanks, Meire.
I'll talk to him.
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The mother
returned home
and found her
son on the
computer,
distracting
himself with a
game.
She asked him to
shut it down so
they could talk.
- Now I can't,
mom. I'm busy,
can't you see? I
have no time!
The mother
pulled the power
cord from the
|
socket and
turned off the
computer,
stating: |
- We are talking
now, son.
She led him to
the living room
and sat with him.
Then she wanted
to know:
- Lucius, do you
know what "time"
means?
- Of course I
do, Mom! Time
represents our
life. 60 seconds
form a minute;
60 minutes, one
hour, and 24
hours represents
one day, and
then there are
months and years
... Is that what
you want to know?
- Yes, but it
goes far beyond
that, honey. I
asked about
"time", as an
opportunity God
gives us to live
and learn, not
only at school
but with life
itself; to
accomplish
things that
please us, grow
and evolve.
Later on, to
choose a
profession to
help ourselves
and others. Get
it?
- Yes, mom, but
what is the
problem? Where
are you getting
at?
- How do you use
your time,
Lucius? - She
replied with
another question.
The boy lowered
his head and
said nothing.
Then the mother
considered:
- The problem,
dear, is that
you spend your
time uselessly!
Nothing is good
or instructive,
and therefore
you have
problems. And
you especially
do not value
your studies.
- Oh, mom, it is
just that I like
to play with my
toys, play
games, watch TV!
- the boy
muttered,
without looking
up.
- I know, you're
still a child!
But you cannot
do just that!
You must also
study, honey. We
will have to
give account to
God for the time
we wasted.
Scheduling your
day carefully
you can do
everything
without
neglecting
anything.
The boy agreed
and told his
mother, opening
his heart to her:
- It's true, Mom.
My grades are
terrible! I know
I need to study
more!
Then he took a
deep breath and
smiled relieved:
- Mom, I was
worried. To
recognise this
truth and tell
you helped me
feel much better.
I really need to
plan my day!
Help me!
- I will help
you, son. You
can count on me,
but try to put
everything on
paper.
Lucius took a
sheet of paper,
divided the day
by hours and put
his schedule in,
with the
exception of the
morning - which
was school time
– and the space
he left for rest
after lunch;
then the
schedule of his
chores and
studies. He saw
that he would
even have some
spare time
before sunset to
play with his
friends! Happy,
he showed the
sheet to his
mother, who
approved.
- Very well,
honey! Now you
just need to
follow this
program.
|
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- You can be
sure of that,
Mom. I do not
want our Father
in Heaven to ask
me for the time
I wasted here on
Earth. I will
say a prayer
asking Jesus to
help me to be
more organized.
I'm sure it will
happen! |
Some months
later, Lucius
grades improved
and he showed
his mother his
report card with
satisfaction.
-You are doing
well and
certainly has
had much help
from Jesus!
Congratulations,
honey! I'm proud
of you. You
showed that you
have a strong
will: you
decided to
change and stood
by your decision.
- And now I have
spare time for
everything, Mom!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
09/06/2014.)