One day,
Frederick heard
his teacher say
that all people
need to exercise
patience with
one another.
- Why, teacher?
- a student
asked.
 |
- Because
all of us,
sooner or later,
we will also
need the
patience of
others! - she
explained.
Frederick went
home thinking
about it. Why
would he,
Frederick, need
the patience of
the people? Or
his family’s
patience? He
could not find
any reason that
showed him that
need! ...
He arrived home
at lunchtime,
went into his
room and saw a
comic book,
which he began
to read. Soon,
Isabela, his
older sister,
called him:
|
|
- Frederick,
come to lunch,
you are the only
one missing! |
- I'm coming,
Isabela! Can’t
you wait a bit?
- he yelled.
But he did not
go. After some
time, his mother
came for him and
took him by the
hand.
They were all
sat around the
table with a
face of
disapproval.
Frederick sat
down, unhappy
because the
story he was
reading was very
good.
His father said
a prayer
thanking God for
the family being
united and the
food they were
about to eat.
But the boy
barely ate
because he was
in a hurry to
get back to his
room.
Later in the
afternoon,
Isabela was
looking for a
book and asked
Frederick if he
knew where it
was, to which
the boy replied
with bad
manners:
- I got it, darn
it! I took it
because I wanted
to see on the
map where a city
is!
His sister, full
of patience,
explained:
- Frederick, but
the book is mine
and you could
have told me
that you took
it! I need to
write a last
minute essay for
tomorrow, or
I'll flunk
geography, and
looked all over
the house for
this book!...
- Ah! You really
don’t like me.
You always
complain about
everything I do!
- You're being
unfair,
Frederick! I am
not refusing to
lend you
anything, I just
prefer that you
let me know,
okay?
Right then,
their mother
came up to see
why her children
were arguing.
- What's going
on? I do not
want fights in
this house!
And Frederick
tearfully
complained to
his mother:
- Mom, Isabela
doesn’t like me.
Incidentally,
nobody likes me
in this house!
... I am very
unhappy! ...
The mother
looked at her
daughter, who,
watching the
scene her
brother was
making, found it
funny. Then she
looked at her
son and calmed
him down:
- Frederick,
tell me what
happened.
Wiping his tears
with his hands,
he explained:
- It is just
that no one has
patience with me
here at home,
mom! You all
argue with me!
My teacher said
we need to have
patience with
others.
His mother heard
those words and
agreed:
- Your teacher
is absolutely
right, my dear.
But no one has
patience with
you? Look! Today
alone, how often
did we exercise
patience with
you?
The boy stopped
crying,
surprised. His
mother
continued:
- At lunchtime,
we were waiting
for you at the
table, because
you did not come
when Isabela
called you, and
you only did so
after I picked
you up, even
though you knew
your father was
in a hurry to
have lunch so he
could return to
work!
And his sister
concluded by
saying:
- I have always
had patience
with you,
Frederick! I do
not mind if you
take my stuff,
but you must let
me know. I got
to write an
essay for
tomorrow!...
Just before all
of this, their
father had
returned from
work and, as no
one noticed him,
stood by the
door listening
without
interfering.
When the
conversation
reached this
point, Leo, the
younger brother
who listened in
silence, joined
in and decided
to speak too:
- I am patient
with you,
Frederick! Today
I wanted to
play, looked for
my new game and
found it in your
room! But when I
take something
of yours, you
tell me off. You
have no patience
with me!
Everyone laughed
at little Leo’s
complaint, who
was only five.
Their mother
added:
- Do you
understand,
Frederick?
Patience is
something that
we need to
cultivate
towards others
too, and not
just think about
ourselves!
However, you
only consider
your rights,
without
realising that
you should act
the same way
towards your
neighbor, that
is, with all
those who are
part of your
life! ...
|
Frederick, who
had stopped
crying and was
thinking about
what had been
said, looked at
each one and
said:
- Do you forgive
me? Mom, I
promise I will
change! I want
to be like you,
Dad, Isabela and
even Leo,
because you have
all been very
patient with me.
The mother
opened her arms
and they
embraced, full
of warmth and
joy to know that,
after all, they
were a family
that loved each
other very much.
The father
approached them
and enveloped
everyone with
his strong and
loving presence,
|
 |
|
saying: |
|
- I am grateful
every day for
the family God
gave me. I heard
your
conversation and
I am very proud
of this
wonderful family
that has
problems, but
that solves
everything with
love and peace!...
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
22/09/2014.)
