Ten year-old
Anna Louise had
great difficulty
accepting
changes or
learning new
things.
She preferred
everything she
had already
learned and
incorporated
into her
existence.
Such behaviour
was more
characteristic
of older people,
not of a girl of
her age. Her
seventy year-old
grandmother,
dona1 Laura,
observing her
would say
jokingly:
- Anna Louise,
my granddaughter,
you seem older
than me! It's so
good to learn
and experience
new things!
But the girl
would shake her
head, not
agreeing:
- I do not like
it, Grandma. My
body is changing
and I do not
want it to
change. I like
it the way it
is. I do not
want my face
horrible and
pimply.
- Ah! But you
will always be
beautiful, my
dear, with or
without pimples.
You must learn
that every stage
is unique and
has its charm.
Dona Laura
realized that
her
granddaughter
was going
through a
puberty crisis
and wanted to
help her.
 |
One day her
grandmother
called her for a
walk. It was
late winter and
the wind was
blowing dried
leaves off of
the trees.
Dona Laura took
her
granddaughter by
the hand as they
walked among the
trees of the
park. The old
lady breathed
deeply, filling
her lungs with
|
|
air and feeling
enchanted with
nature. Anna
Louise, frowning,
walking beside
her. |
Suddenly, the
girl said
angrily:
- I do not know
why you are so
delighted with
everything. The
trees are bare,
everything is
ugly. There are
no flowers! ...
The old lady,
smiling and
looking up,
replied:
- Can you not
see the beauty
of all this,
Anna? Each
season is a
period in which
nature prepares
for the next
step. Look!
Winter is ending
and the plants
prepare for
spring.
She took Anna
near a bush and
showed her:
- Try to notice!
Look at the
tender shoots
that sprout on
the branches!
Look how the dry
grass is filled
with small green
dots! Soon, the
flowers will
colour nature
with endless
beauty. And not
only that, Anna
Louise! Animals
also dress in
new clothes:
birds drop the
old feathers and
gain new fluff;
animals shed
their fur,
replacing it
with a new one.
Everything is
renewed. Even
our body, at
certain stages
of life changes,
preparing itself
for new stages,
new
responsibilities.
Grandma stopped
talking, looked
at her
granddaughter,
and continued:
- My case is
different. I am
in the winter of
physical
existence,
preparing to
replace the old
leaves for a new
and beautiful
garment.
Everything runs
its course.
The girl stared
at Grandma with
moist eyes. She
knew that her
grandma was
referring, with
extreme delicacy,
to the
transformation
through physical
death and the
return for a new
life.
- Do you
understand? The
changes that God
gives us, Anna
Louise, always
have a good and
useful purpose.
They are always
for our good,
even when we
think otherwise.
The changes that
are occurring
with your body
are also for
your own good.
They will enable
you to grow and
mature into a
woman, so that
one day you will
get married and
have children.
Anna Louise
smiled and
embraced her
grandmother with
great affection.
- Got it,
Grandma. But
it's so hard!
...
- I know, my
dear. However,
think that it's
just a phase and
that soon all
will be well.
Just as the
arrival of
spring to nature,
your life will
also be filled
with flowers,
beauty, perfumes
and joy.
- Thank you,
Grandma. I love
you very much. I
really do not
want God to take
you away from
me.
- Do not worry.
Our Father knows
what He does.
Who knows,
perhaps I will
be back as your
daughter!...
|
 |
|
The girl's eyes
sparkled with
satisfaction and
hope. |
Embracing each
other, they
walked through
the park on
their way back
home.
Anna Louise now
looked up and
could see not
only the bare
trees, but the
tender shoots
that sprouted everywhere,
announcing the
new season.
AUNTIE CELIA
1
In Brazilian
society, Dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman's first
name.
