Theme: Mistakes repair

The chocolate

Beatriz had just finished her lunch and went to the kitchen to get her dessert.

She loved chocolate and that was special because she won from her teacher for getting the best grade in the math challenge.

But when she opened the cabinet, she had an unpleasant surprise. The chocolate was gone.

Beatriz searched for it everywhere but did not find it. Nervously, she went to her mother, who was also surprised by the disappearance of the candy.

The two then asked Raquel, the younger sister of Beatriz:

- Quel, do you know where the chocolate that Bia won at school is?

Raquel, with a closed face, was already waiting for the question and harshly answered:

- Yes! I ate it!

- What? I cannot believe you did it! You knew it was mine! You'll see! - Beatriz screamed, ready to attack her sister, if it was not her mother to stop her.

- So what it was yours? You also ate the brigadeiros that I brought from my friend's birthday party! I left it in the fridge and the next day you had eaten them all! - Raquel answered shouting.

- I had already apologized, I thought you had brought them to me! - Beatriz retorted.

The two continued arguing. They were so angry that the mother had to separate them, sending each one to a room.

They obeyed. After a long time, the mother went to talk to Raquel:

- Daughter, do you think you were right, eating the chocolate that you knew was the prize your sister won?

Raquel felt that she had not done the right thing, but even so, she answered between tears:

- I do, Mother! Remember that you explained in our Gospel at Home about the Law of Action and Reaction, it is a God’s law that brings back to us what we do, good or bad? So! Bia ate my candy and now I ate hers! She was wrong! I just followed God’s law! Now she will learn not to eat what is not hers! - and saying that, she burst into tears.

The mother waited a little while for her daughter to calm down and explained:

- No, honey, you're wrong. You have acted very bad and that is why you are feeling this way. If you had acted well, you would be at peace. Whenever someone acts according to God’s laws, he feels happy and with a clear conscience.

The girl wanted to explain herself again but the mother went on to explain:

- The Action and Reaction Law works without the offended people having to do something. In fact, God does not allow it. When somebody wants to do justice by his own hands, he suffers the bad consequences of his act. Only God, who is infinitely just and wise, knows all the facts and the conscience of each person. For example, Raquel, you cannot be sure if Beatriz believed that you had brought the brigadeiros to her or if she used that excuse to eat them. But God knows! Now, daughter, you did something called revenge and made a greater mistake than Bia's, as she could not be sure whether the candy was for her or not. You knew perfectly well that the chocolate was not yours and moreover it was special to your sister.

Raquel listened to her and finally accepted her mistake. They talked a little more and the girl, very sad, asked:

- And now, Mother? Am I going to be punished by God?

- No, daughter! When we make mistakes, the first step is to be humble and recognize the error and then to apologize according to God’s law, in reparation of your act. God does not punish but as long as you don’t do a good deed to replace the bad act, you will not feel well. I think you can start by apologizing to Beatriz - her mother suggested.

- But she will not accept it, mother! She was very angry at me. - Raquel said.

- If you apologize sincerely, you will be doing your part. She's going to have to exercise forgiveness. Jesus taught us to always forgive. - said his mother.

The two of them went to talk to Beatriz, who was still upset.

Her sister's apology and the memory that she had also gone wrong when she ate the brigadeiros, not knowing who they belong to, helped Beatriz to calm down a bit.

As the days went by, no one else talked about chocolate. But Raquel still did not like to remember what she had done.

After a few weeks, Easter was near.

To amuse the students and encourage their commitment to activities, Raquel's school promoted a game which it would reward the most dedicated student in each class with a large Easter egg.

Raquel wanted the prize so much and worked hard enough to be the winner of her class. She came home radiant with joy.

At that time, Raquel remembered the time when her sister had won chocolate for the math challenge. She also remembered her mother's teachings on God’s laws.

Raquel then ran to meet her sister and offered her the Easter egg. Beatriz thanked the gift by giving Raquel a warm hug. That hug meant that, finally, everything was fine between them. Raquel learned at that moment, the value of the repair. Now she was in peace.

After lunch, Beatriz opened the egg and offered Raquel a piece of the delicious chocolate.

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com