Eight year-old
Johnny, a smart
kid with a good
heart, heard
someone say that
we all should
help each other,
and deep inside
himself, a great
desire to do
good to others
began to
overcome him.
However, Johnny
did not know how.
As he did not
have anything
that was really
his, he asked
his mother to
give him some
things he could
share with his
friends: objects,
fruit and candy.
On that day,
especially,
Johnny had
nothing to do.
It was cloudy
and the rain
soon began to
fall heavily,
amid thunder and
lightning. Then
his mother
considered:
- Honey, I
approve of your
desire to help
people. However,
for it to be a
gesture that is
really yours, we
need you to give
away what
actually belongs
to you.
The boy became
thoughtful and
said:
- But then, what
can I give, Mom?
|
- A piece of
clothing, a pair
of shoes, a toy,
a book ... Even
the sweets and
candies that you
get from your
grandparents!
The boy's eyes
widened in
surprise, then
he replied:
- But those are
mine!...
- Absolutely,
honey. But we
have to do good
by donating what
belongs to us;
if you give away
what is mine,
for example, I
am the one doing
charity, not
you. Get it?
|
 |
|
Johnny thought
... thought ...
and said: |
- Mom, but I
have almost
nothing!... How
can I help
people then?
The mother felt
sorry her for
son and embraced
him with love:
- Johnny, there's
a lot we can do
which costs us
nothing and that
is light in
people's lives.
An example of
this is the Sun
that every day,
with its light,
illuminates all
the people
around the world,
wherever they
are. But we have
smaller examples...
- Yes, Mom! The
street lights
that at night
lighten the
cities! The
lamps we have in
our house -
continued the
excited boy.
- That's right,
Johnny.
As if on
purpose,
everything went
dark. And the
kind mother
continued:
- But there is a
light of great
value that comes
when there is a
blackout in
stormy days,
like today, and
it is
represented by a
humble candle,
which lights the
house and helps
us whenever it
is necessary. It
is so small,
costs almost
nothing, but its
value is immense
when we are in
the darkness. It
give us peace,
joy, comfort to
our hearts and
drives out fear.
|
Johnny listened
to his mother
talk, surprised
and moved. She
came back with a
candle in her
hand, took a
match and lit
it. The boy
said:
- That’s true,
Mom. On second
thought, I want
to be like a
candle, which is
weak, but when
necessary,
illuminates
everything! I
get now what you
meant. That if
we do not have
money to donate,
we can help in
other ways. But
how? The candle
illuminates, but
I have no light!
...
His mother
smiled and said:
- But you have
good will, which
is fundamental.
So
|
 |
|
think: if
someone is sad,
how can you help
them? |
|
- Putting joy in
their heart!
- That's right,
dear! What if a
classmate does
not know how to
do the homework?
- I can help
them!
- If someone is
thirsty?
- I can give
them a glass of
water.
His mom laughed
and embraced him
fondly:
- See how easy
it is, honey? To
help is to aid
people in their
difficulties.
Which often
costs nothing.
This does not
prevent you from
donating the
things you no
longer use, the
books you've
already read,
the toys that
you do not play
with anymore,
the clothes that
no longer fit
you... And a lot
of other things.
 |
And from that
day on Johnny
changed before
everybody’s eyes.
If a friend
would take a
tumble and get
hurt, he would
run to help and
console them. If
a neighbor
needed to pick
up weed from the
garden, Johnny
would volunteer,
full of goodwill.
If his mother
was overwhelmed
with the
housework, he
would sweep the
backyard, take
care of the dog
and would even
give it a nice
bath.
|
Thus, Johnny
learned that it
does not matter
if the light is
big or small. It
will always have
value for what
it can
accomplish. Like
him, who was
small but full
of good will, it
could help many
people.
Soon Johnny was
the most liked
boy of the
street where he
lived.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
20/10/2014.)
