The main concern
of Caio's mother
was her son’s
education and
making him
someone of good
values, who
liked to study
and work. If she
reached those
goals, she would
be happy.
However, Caio
was a boy who
loved the good
life without
responsibilities
or duties. Lazy,
he avoided all
sorts of
physical and
mental effort.
He thought it
was a bummer to
have to attend
school and liked
even less having
to do any of the
chores that his
mother asked of
him. And she
joked by
saying:
 |
- You are like a
sloth!
But Caio did not
mind being
called that.
What he really
liked was to
have fun with
his friends.
One day he was
playing and his
mother called
him to bathe. He
went to the
bathroom
mumbling:
- Oh, Mom! I
want to play!
Why do I have to
bathe?
|
His kind mother
answered
patiently:
- Because it is
necessary,
honey! Have you
ever thought
what it would be
like not bathing
every day?
Before long, you
would be dirty
and smelly and
no one would
want to get near
you.
- Ah! What if
even so I did
not want to
bathe? — asked
the unruly boy.
- You would be
prone to
diseases because
of
micro-organisms
and bacteria
that proliferate
in the dirt.
Would you like
to risk it?
The boy hung his
head,
nonconformist,
stirring the
water with his
hands.
After watching
him for a moment
and noticing
that he was
still not
convinced, his
mother
considered:
- Caio, look at
you! Have you
ever thought
about how
wonderful your
body is?
- My body? — the
boy looked up,
interested.
- Yes, son. God
gave you a
perfect body!
Everything works
fine. You see
well, hear
well... Make an
effort: think of
everything you
have received
from God.
The boy thought
for a moment and
realised:
- My legs are
strong and take
me wherever I
want to go. My
arms are also
perfect and I
have enough
strength,
right?
- That's right,
honey.
Enjoying that
“game”, Caio
continued
thinking and
discovering:
- I'm smart and
I learn easily,
when I want. I
hear very well.
I also speak
well, unlike
Heloise, my
classmate, who
has trouble
speaking.
- Yes, Caio. Our
Father in Heaven
gave you these
and many other
good things that
you can
enumerate. But
have you ever
thought about
the
responsibility
you have for all
that you have
received?
The boy's eyes
widened in
amazement.
-
Responsibility?
- Yes, son. It
means that we
have to answer
for the damage
we caused
something or
someone. When
you get a
present, don’t
you feel
responsible for
taking care of
it? - said his
mother.
 |
- It is true. I
take really good
care of my toys
and do not let
anyone break
them.
- That's right,
son. But if a
toy breaks it
can be repaired
and, if there is
no way to fix
it, you may get
another. The
same is not true
with our body
which was given
to us by God as
a gift so we
could use it for
a lifetime. So
how do you think
you should treat
your body?
- I had not
thought about
it, Mom. I must
take care of it,
wash it, clean
it well so it
will not spoil
or stop working,
like a broken
machine.
- Exactly, Caio.
Keeping your
body healthy, it
will
|
|
always
be well
and you
can use
it for a
long
time. |
The little boy
thought for a
moment and asked
again:
- Ooops! I do
not know how to
wash it inside!
The mother
laughed at the
little boy’s
thought and
clarified:
- Do not worry,
Caio. God does
everything so
well that inside
our bodies the
cleaning is
automatic. The
organs
themselves take
care of cleaning
and eliminating
what we do not
need.
- I got it! This
is what happens
with our poo and
pee.
- Exactly. But
not only that,
darling. If our
material body,
which is
temporary, needs
our dedication
and care, what
do you think are
the requirements
of our eternal
Spirit?
- I have to wash
my Spirit too? -
the boy asked,
amazed.
- Of course not,
honey. However
if we want to be
better, to
follow the
teachings of
Jesus, we have
to cleanse our
soul. How do we
do it?
- It's hard,
Mom.
- No, it's not.
It just takes
having good will
and
perseverance. We
have to cleanse
our thoughts,
removing the
negative things
and correct our
feelings,
putting goodness
in our
attitudes. We
must renew our
ideals and
aspirations,
searching what
is best, raising
our thoughts to
have the support
from the Most
High. We must
also be ready to
work, learn and
grow. Never
stand still
without action.
Do you know
why?
- No.
- Because there
are germs and
bacteria in the
spiritual world
and they attack
people who do
not care for the
internal
cleaning.
The boy became
silent,
reflecting on
all he had
heard. Then he
concluded,
smiling:
- You're right,
Mom. I do not
want to be a
sloth.
Aunt Celia
