 |
One day during
recess at
school, Charlie
was hanging out
with his friend
Oliver. Both had
their snacks in
hand and were
eating and
talking.
Then, a
classmate
settled down
next to them.
From time to
time the boy
looked at
Charlie and
Oliver with
hungry eyes. He
had nothing to
eat and was
starving.
Oliver, who had
barely begun to
eat his
sandwich, parted
it in two and
extended his
hand, giving one
half to his
classmate:
- Joe, I'm not
hungry. Will you
accept to share
this sandwich
with me? If I
take it back
home my Mom will
be sad because
she was the one
who made it.
|
With a shy
smile, Joe
gladly
accepted:
- Thank you,
Oliver. It must
be delicious!
God bless you!
And Joe quickly
ate his half of
the sandwich,
thanked his
friend again,
and went to wash
his hands in the
water cooler
feeling
satisfied.
Charlie, who
watched Oliver’s
attitude with
astonishment,
used the fact
that Joe had
walked away to
reprimand his
classmate:
- Oliver, why
did you share
your meal with
that kid? He did
not bring his
own snack and
ate half of
yours! I do not
like people who
take advantage
of others! If he
were hungry, why
didn’t he bring
a snack!...
But Oliver heard
Charlie’s harsh
words, took a
deep breath and
replied:
- Charlie, I
know Joe. He is
from a poor but
very good
family. He does
not bring a meal
because they
have nothing at
home, you know?
So when that
happens, I do
not mind sharing
my lunch with
him. Before
leaving home, I
had a good
breakfast so I
will not miss
half a sandwich,
trust me.
Upon hearing
Oliver’s
explanation,
Charlie hung his
head in shame
for being so
hard with a
classmate who
was poorer than
him. Soon the
bell rang and
they returned to
class but
Charlie could
not forget what
Oliver had said;
his friend's
words were
hammering in his
head.
After returning
home, Charlie
still could not
forget what he
had heard from
his friend. He
did not know
that Joe was so
poor and felt
bad about the
way he had
behaved.
He went to bed,
closed his eyes
but Joe's image
appeared in
front of him,
making him
remember one day
when he brought
two iron toy
cars to school,
those which are
imported
identical
imitation models
of real cars. He
noted that Joe
did not take his
eyes off the
toys, delighted.
However, he
would not even
let Joe touch
the cars.
Now, lying
there, he felt
ashamed of his
attitude. He
cried for acting
that way with
Joe. And after
he decided to
change his
attitude towards
his friend, he
finally fell
asleep.
The next day,
Charlie woke up
excited. He did
not even need
his mother to
come wake him
up. He showered,
got dressed and
sat down to have
his first meal.
He asked his
mother to
prepare an
extra, really
tasty, sandwich
and two juices.
She did as he
asked and said:
- Wow, honey!
Looks like you
woke up really
hungry!
- No, Mom. It is
just to repair a
mistake. I'll
tell you later.
Goodbye!...
- Godspeed,
darling!
Arriving at the
school, Charlie
was beaming.
Everyone noticed
the difference
in him without
knowing why.
Even their
teacher noticed
his good mood,
because he was
usually grumpy.
During recess,
he went out with
his friend
Oliver and
called Joe to
come along. They
found a very
quiet place
under a tree.
Charlie took one
of the
sandwiches and
handed it to
Joe, who was
surprised with
his classmate’s
attitude.
- Do not worry,
Charlie. I'm not
hungry, it’s
ok.
- I brought this
sandwich for
you, Joe. My mom
made it and it
must be very
good. Try it!
Ah! I also have
juice for you! -
Charlie replied
with a smile.
 |
With his eyes
wide open, Joe
looked at the
sandwich that
was in one hand
and the juice in
the other, and
his eyes
sparkled with
joy. Then, with
a timid voice he
asked:
- Charlie, would
you mind if I
eat only half of
the sandwich and
drink only half
the juice?
- No, do
whatever you
want. I brought
them for you!
|
|
- Oh, thank you.
It’s just that I
have a three
year-old brother
who stays at
home and has
nothing to eat;
I would like to
share my lunch
with him today. |
Charlie
swallowed hard,
wanting to cry
as he heard Joe
talk about his
little brother,
and said:
- Do whatever
you want with
your snack.
|
Then,
remembering the
toy cars that he
had brought and
were in his
pocket, Charlie
smiled and
said:
- So if you have
a little
brother, I have
something that
he will like! -
he said as he
pulled out the
two toy cars
from his pocket,
still new and
shiny, and gave
them to his
classmate, who
could not
believe such
happiness.
Joe stood up
from where he
was and jumped
to hug
|
 |
|
Charlie,
thanking
him for
the
gifts.
He then
explained,
in
tears: |
- I was sad
because today is
my brother’s
birthday and I
had nothing to
give him. Now, I
have a snack and
I will even
bring these toys
for him as a
gift from you,
Charlie!...
At that moment,
Charlie
understood why
Jesus invites
us, in His
lessons, to do
good to others.
There is no
greater joy than
to feel useful
to someone and
receive their
gratitude, which
affects the
heart of those
who do good.
Oliver, who
watched Charlie,
amazed by the
change that had
taken place in
him, smiled, and
Charlie noticed
it. Then he said
to his
classmate:
- Thanks to you,
Oliver, today, I
received my
greatest lesson
of the Gospel of
Jesus. Thank
you, friend!...
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
26/10/2015.)
