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Once upon a time
in a far away
country, there
was a man who
was always
unhappy.
All work was
hard and
unpleasant. He
wouldn’t like to
do anything and
any minor job he
was told to do
was done
improperly.
He kept whining
and turned out
to be a
persona non
grata even
with his
relatives.
If he was told
to treat and
feed the horses,
he complained
about the smell
of the animals. If
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he had to
run some
errands in
the city, he
said he was
not feeling
well. If he
had to
gather the
herd when it
was getting
dark, he
said the fog
was harmful
to his
health. |
After all, any
task that was
conferred on him
was badly
accomplished,
even though he
had a healthy
body and strong
arms.
One day, another
servant and he
were sent to the
city to do a
job, and, as
usual, he went
on complaining
about his life.
— So, this is
it. The dirty
work is always
on me. I always
get the hardest
things and, as
if it were not
enough, I feel
my body badly
hurt. I can’t
stand it
anymore!
The other one
replied,
patiently:
— It is not like
that, my friend.
We all work
hard, that’s
true. But we are
rewarded,
because our boss
is good and
generous.
We can’t
complain.
Furthermore,
every job is a
blessing from
God.
— Nonsense!
We are treated
like animals and
work our socks
off to earn
little money.
Ah!
I wish I had a
different life,
not needed to
work!
And they saw on
the road,
further ahead, a
man sitting
under a tree, in
front of a
little gate
which led to a
simple but clean
house, he
pointed at him
and said:
— Take a look at
that man over
there, calmly
sitting. I bet
he has no
problems. And,
to be sitting at
this time of the
day, he is not
supposed to be
working. Now,
this is life!
They came
closer. The man
looked at them
peacefully. As
it was a bit
cold, he had a
worn-out scarf,
but clean.
They started a
conversation,
and the unhappy
servant
inquired:
— Tell me, good
man, what do you
do for a living?
You definitely
don’ need to!
Ah, I envy you!
The stranger
looked at him
and said:
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— That’s true.
I don’t work as
I used to
because I can’t.
I’ve always been
a hard-working
man. I would get
home exhausted,
but happy,
because I had
worked properly.
One day, though,
I was taking a
wagon to the
village when I
suffered an
accident.
The horses got
scared and the
wagon lost
control.
I tried
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to deter the
animals,
which broke
loose, so I
jumped on
them and got
between
them,
holding them
with my
fists. But
suddenly I
lost
balance, and
fell over. I
got really
hurt, but
thanks God,
I’m still
alive. |
And, as he
paused, he
uncovered his
legs, saying:
— I have no legs
now, but I never
complained. I
can still do
many things, I
tell you. I
still have two
arms, quick
fingers and a
sensible mind. I
told you I don’t
work as I used
to...
And, pointing
with his hand,
he showed a
happy boy who
came closer
bringing some
straw.
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— I now make
these baskets to
sell. My son
helps me out and
we have been
living off it.
And he said,
emotionally:
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— God is very
kind! I have a
loving family, I
can still work e
andI am alive
because of
His grace.
As you can
see, I have
everything I
need to be
happy. |
The unhappy
servant got his
head down,
ashamed of his
behavior.
Touched, he went
away meditating
on all the
blessings God
had given him
and he always
took for
granted.
From this day on
he became
another man.
With good nature
and happiness he
accomplished all
his tasks,
always thanking
God the
opportunities we
have in life.
Aunt Célia
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