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Spiritism for
Kids
-
Célia Xavier
Camargo -
Portuguese
Spanish |
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Year 9 - N° 428
- August 23,
2015 |
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Translation
Johnny Silveira
- silveirajohnny@yahoo.com |
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John and the
wheelchair
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Towards the end
of the day,
after his
homework was
done, sitting on
the porch of his
house,
twelve-year-old
Joel talked with
his mother.
He was going
through a
difficult age
where everything
is a problem,
aggravation and
revolt.
His mother
patiently
explained to him
that in life
everything has a
reason for being.
That God, the
Creator of the
Universe and
Father of all of
us, knows
exactly what
each one of his
children needs
to learn and
improve.
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Just then, a man
in a wheelchair
being pushed by
a boy who took
him to the small
square in front
of Joel's house
passed by. The
boy stopped the
chair, leaned
over to speak to
the man, then
took his own
backpack and
left him alone.
Watching the
scene, Joel
turned to his
mother,
disgusted:
- You see, Mom?
That man in the
wheelchair not
only is unable
to walk but also
takes up the
boy's time when
he has to go to
school! Do you
think it is fair?
That man should
stay home or go
away and leave
the boy alone!
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The mother
turned to her
son, surprised: |
- Do you really
think so, Joel?
Honey, we do not
know the ties
that bind this
man to the boy
with the
backpack who, I
think, has gone
to school.
- Oh, Mom! No
one deserves a
weight like that,
don't you think?
She exchanged a
look with her
son and said:
- What if it
were we, your
father or me,
that became ill
and could not
walk, would you
think the same
way?
Joel became
silent then said
he would not
know what to do.
His sad mother
explained:
- To be able to
judge, honey, we
must know
people's story.
Think about it!
I will prepare
our lunch.
Thoughtful, Joel
decided to cross
the street and
talk to the
wheelchair man.
Thus approaching
him, he said hi.
The man smiled,
satisfied:
- Ah, young man!
I am glad you
have come to
talk to me! My
son went to
school and I'm
here in this
square, going
from place to
place so I do
not get bored.
However, there
are always some
nice people who
come to talk to
me. I'm John.
And you?
- I am Joel and
I live right
there. But why
do you come here
to be alone for
hours? Wouldn't
it be better to
stay in your
home?
He smiled and
explained:
- Joel, it is
just that
Gerald, my son,
comes back from
school late and
the route home
is dangerous;
muggings happen
often! So I go
with him to keep
him safe. And
I'm always
blessed because,
as I said, there
is always kind
people like you
that come to
talk to me,
making the wait
more enjoyable
and seemingly
shorter.
Joel noticed
that he had
passed a hasty
judgement. More
friendly now, he
asked what had
happened that
put him in a
wheelchair, and
the man replied:
- I was a
home-builder and
was working on a
building when I
fell from the
second floor. I
was supposed to
have died, it
was hard, but I
survived. After
many months, the
only option was
the wheelchair,
which I accepted
gladly!
- John, but
there's no way
for you to walk
on crutches, at
least? - Joel
asked.
- Joel, the
doctor said I
could have
stayed bedridden,
unable to get up,
but that God had
been very good
to me. So, I
understood that
it had a price:
I should bring
comfort and hope
to people. Thus,
it is what I do
here in this
wheelchair which
takes me
everywhere!
Isn't it
great?!...
- Thinking like
that... I think
it is.
John laughed
noting the boy's
expression of
pity:
- Joel, believe
me, my friend...
I am much better
now than before!
I was terrible!
I would fight
constantly,
criticise people,
was rude, and I
was always
unhappy with my
life. Until the
Lord showed me
that happiness
we create with
our attitudes!
Today,
everything is
good for me; I
have nothing to
complain about.
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- Ah... John,
before I knew
you, I had
another
impression of
you!. Now I see
what a wonderful
creature you
are! - Joel said
with teary eyes,
adding: - I am
just like you
were! My mother
always told me
that I should
change, but I
never did. I
would like you
to meet her!
- Well, I'd be
happy to, Joel.
Having an idea,
Joel proposed
that they would
cross the street
and go have a
snack in his
home. John
agreed and they
went to Joel's
house, who
shouted from the
door:
- Mom, I brought
a visitor for
lunch!
His mother came
from the kitchen
saying that she
had nothing
special to offer
to the visitor,
but she would be
happy to have
them there.
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Seeing that it
was the
wheelchair man,
who she already
had seen many
times, she
smiled and held
out her hand: |
- Welcome to our
house, sir!
Shaking her hand,
John thanked her
as he smiled
kindly, to which
she replied that
although simple,
the house was
always open to
friends.
Joel's father
had arrived
home. He greeted
John and they
sat down at the
table. Joel that
day, to his
parents'
surprise, was
keen to say the
prayer:
- Lord Jesus,
thank you for
the blessings of
today,
especially the
presence of my
friend John, who
has taught me
many important
things. May I
keep, from now
on, all the good
things we talked
about, making me
a better person,
more sensitive
to the suffering
of others and
happier. Thank
you, Lord!
Everyone was
touched by
Joel's prayer,
noting the
changes that had
taken place in
him on that
blessed day
through the
presence of
John.
From that day on,
John would often
wait for his son,
Gerald, at
Joel's home.
Asked to do this
every day, he
thanked them but
said:
- I cannot! I
need to help
other people!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
20/07/2015.)
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