I Want To Help Jesus!

Seven year-old David was a very intelligent boy, and like any child learning to read and write, he would read everything that he could see, be it shopping signs, transit signs, street name signs or those huge advertisements placed on avenues for many people to see.

But David was also very critical of the behaviour of any person. Anything he saw someone do soon would become a negative comment in his mouth as he criticized what the person had done.

- Mom! Come see this news in the newspaper! - David shouted.

His mother, busy in the kitchen, ran there as she wiped her hands on a apron, wondering what had happened. And the boy with a reproaching tone, told her the case of the criminal who had robbed a store and fled.

The mother sat on the sofa next to her son and read the next few paragraphs: "The thief was chased by the police, who managed to catch him. Arrested, and very embarrassed, the poor man confessed that he broke into the supermarket because his children were starving. Tired of seeing them cry, he decided to steal something for the children to eat." Then the mother asked her son:

- David, did you read it all?

- No, Mom. I just read that the thief broke into the store and later was arrested!

- Well then, read the rest of the story - advised his mother, handing him the newspaper.

And David read the rest of it and became pensive. Then he turned to his mother with a sad expression:

- Poor guy, Mom! They had nothing to eat at home!... But why, instead of asking, he decided to steal food in a supermarket?

The mother agreed that it was wrong to steal but continued:

- David, for this father to decide to resort to such drastic measures, how many times would he have knocked on doors that were unanswered? It is not right what he did, however, not being in the place of this father, I can't and won't judge him. He, like everyone else, is a brother of ours who needs help! The boy looked thoughtful, then said: - But if everyone thought like that, Mom, they would want to steal because they would have an excuse!...

- This is not about thinking that the entire population would react like that, honey, but Jesus warned us that noticing someone's mistake we should put ourselves in their shoes and see what we would do. So, what would you, David, do if you were in this father's place?

- I do not know, Mom. I'm not in his shoes! - replied the boy.

- So put yourself in his place: What if in our house we did not have food?

- Oh, we would eat crackers, popcorn, chocolate, fruit, ice cream, candy!

The mother smiled sadly:

- David, when a person has no food, they have none of those things that are superfluous...

- Superfluous? What is it, Mom?...

- They are unnecessary things we buy when we do not know where to spend our money. Got it? So think: What if we did not have rice, beans, meat, vegetables, fruits, anything?

- Got it, Mom. So this father really had nothing! If it were us, what would we do?

The mother smiled sadly and said:

- I do not know, David. That is why Jesus advised us to put ourselves in the person's place, because only then we will have compassion to help others. And Jesus said more: that helping someone, anyone, who are hungry, thirsty, have no clothes, are sick or in prison and then we visit them, Jesus said it would be as if we did that to Him!

- Wow... So we have to help people as we would like to be helped! I want to help Jesus!...

The mother hugged her son who now had a better understanding of life and his neighbour.

- From now on, Mom, in any situation, I will always put myself in the other person's shoes. We have to help this poor man! I think Jesus will be pleased with me! How will we find out where he lives, Mom?

- I do not know, son. But let's search. I think Jesus will help us to find him!

At that moment, she felt a deep emotion, as if Jesus Himself were there to support them. And she raised her thoughts to the higher spheres, being thankful for the help they received.

MEIMEI

(Psychographed by Celia X. de Camargo on 29/06/2015.)