Mary started to
become
discontented
with life.
Everything for
her was bad and
nothing she had
pleased her. Her
mother, noting
her daughter's
behaviour, got
worried.
 |
One day, Mary
complained of
her situation,
saying she had
nothing and
wanting to be
like her friends
who had
everything they
wanted.
Full of
patience, her
mother invited
her for a walk,
as her daughter
constantly
complained about
always being at
home. She
accepted
grudgingly
because that day
she was
particularly
unhappy.
Mary and her
mother walked
around the
neighbourhood,
bought some ice
cream and
settled on a
park bench in
the shade of a
beautiful tree.
While having the
ice cream, the
mother asked:
|
|
- Mary, why have
you been so
upset lately? We
give you
everything,
honey! Are you
having problems
at school? I see
you always
angry,
complaining, and
I do not
understand why
as you lack
nothing. What is
happening to
you? |
The girl gave
the ice cream a
lick then
sighed:
- Mom, my
friends have
everything. I am
the only who
needs to ask for
what I want. I
have friends who
are always
wearing new
clothes and new
shoes, even have
new toys! In
class I am the
only one who
wears old
clothes, shoes
and plays with
old toys. It’s
not fair!...
The mother
thought for a
moment, then
asked:
- Are you sure
about that,
darling? I do
not think your
"whole" class
only has new
things! You have
poor friends,
others are
children of
parents who work
hard and
certainly can’t
afford to give
luxuries to
their children.
What you're
feeling is
called jealousy
and it is very
ugly.
- Mom, are you
doubting me? -
asked the little
girl, her voice
rising angrily.
- No, honey.
However, I know
those people
better than you,
and I noticed
that there are
students in your
class with great
difficulty; I
see them with
old but clean
shoes; with
shabby but well
pressed
uniforms. As for
toys, I can’t
say anything
because I've
never seen those
students with
toys at school!
Right then, one
of the children
passed by them,
a classmate of
Mary, and her
mother smiled at
the boy.
- Hello, Luke!
How are you?
- I am fine,
dona1 Vera.
Are you resting
a little?
- We are
enjoying the
pleasant shade
of this
beautiful tree.
Sit here with
us, Luke.
- Just a little
bit, dona Vera.
I have to take a
message to my
mother. She
washes clothes
for a man who is
about to go on a
trip and asked
her to get his
clothes ready as
soon as
possible. So
I'll sit down
just a little.
And while we
talk, I’ll
rest!
The mother
looked at her
daughter, who
had her eyes
wide with
amazement:
- Your mother
washes clothes
for other
families?
- Yes, Mary. And
she washes them
really well,
everyone likes
her service. I
know it because
I deliver the
clothes and hear
the praise of
her clients. If
you need it too,
just talk to me
and I will stop
by your house,
pick up the
dirty clothes
and then return
them clean and
smelling great!
Mary hung her
head, not
knowing what to
say. Her mother
smiled and
thanked the
boy:
- Luke, I'll
accept your
offer. Will it
not be too heavy
for you?
- On the
contrary, the
more I work, the
more I help my
mother. Also, I
have a little
cart where I put
the clothes. My
father died in
an accident when
I was two. So, I
help my mother;
I have a younger
brother who is
sick and needs
attention.
Mary heard her
classmate’s
words and felt
like crying. In
fact, she did
not imagine that
someone could
have so many
problems in
life. Then she
asked:
- Luke, you
always seem so
happy, content
with life... How
do you do it?
 |
The boy smiled
at her,
explaining:
- I have found
out, Mary, that
sadness does not
help us at all.
I learned from
my mother that
the best is to
always be happy
with everything.
Our life could
be worse! Take
our classmate
Paula, for
example!
- What about
her? - Mary
asked
curiously.
- Paula has
three younger
brothers. Two
were born with a
heart condition,
which runs in
the family. The
other fell from
a tree and broke
his leg. As
their mother
could only get
him seen by a
doctor hours
later, there was
a problem and he
does not walk
right anymore.
So Paula is
helping her
mother by taking
care of her
three brothers
so that she can
work,
|
|
helping
their
father
with the
household
expenses. |
- I didn’t know,
Luke! She always
seemed so well!
...
- Mary, it is
just that to
always cry and
complain about
life does not
solve our
problems. What
helps is action
to improve the
situation. And
joy is a great
remedy that God
gives us to be
able to overcome
the difficulties
with love.
- Joy? But your
life is so hard,
Luke! - Mary
replied.
- But if I lived
crying in the
corners, I would
not help to
solve our
problems at
home. We would
all be sad and
not improve the
situation. Only
love and
happiness will
help us maintain
our thoughts
elevated and
trusting in
Jesus!
Mary gave her
friend a tight
hug, and her
mother hugged
the two
happily.
- Luke, from
today, I am
available for
whatever you
need, whether to
help your mother
or any family in
difficulty. And
I'm sure that my
mother would
also like to
help, isn’t it,
Mom? - proposed
Mary,
decisively.
Luke smiled,
pleased with
Mary’s new
disposition to
help others.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
04/04/2016.)
1 In Brazilian
society, Dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman’s first
name.
