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Ferdinand was
child with a
very good heart,
and sensitive to
other people’s
suffering.
One day, as he
passed by a
peripheral
street, he saw a
very poor house
with two
children playing
by the door.
Following his
intuition, he
approached them.
He became aware
they didn’t have
a father and
their mother was
working to pay
the bills. They
said they
haven’t eaten
anything on that
day, and would
only eat when
their mom came
back from work.
Ferdinand felt
pity for them
and decided to
help, but how?
He didn’t have
any money
either. His dad
worked really
hard so they
would have
enough to eat at
home.
He had an idea.
He could contact
his friends.
He couldn’t do
much on his own,
but with their
help they could
do a lot.
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He gathered his
friends together
and told them
his plan. If
each of them
contributed a
little bit, they
would be able to
help that
family. They all
approved the
idea and decided
to ask their
parents,
neighbors, and
other friends
for help. If
more resources
became
available, they
could help other
families in
need.
Not only they
received food,
clothes and
shoes, but also
each of them
dedicated their
time to the
children,
improving
domestic
and
personal
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hygiene
practices;
and
helping
them
with
their
homework.
Little
by
little,
they
managed
to help
other
families
in need
around
the same
area.
They
were all
happy
and
optimistic.
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Ferdinand
decided to ask
one of the
richest boys at
school to help
them. He was
very
disappointed
when the boy
replied:
— I have nothing
to give away.
— What? You are
one of the
richest boys at
school! — He
said.
Ferdinand
insisted and,
against his
will, the boy
took a coin out
of his pocket
and said:
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— This coin is
all I can give.
Ferdinand was
flabbergasted.
He felt like not
taking it.
The coin wasn’t
worth much.
Therefore, he
decided to take
the coin and
walked away.
He was so angry
when he got back
home, told his
mother what
happened and
even said to
her:
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— This coin is
all I can give.
Ferdinand was
flabbergasted.
He felt like not
taking it.
The coin wasn’t
worth much.
Therefore, he
decided to take
the coin and
walked away.
He was so angry
when he got back
home, told his
mother what
happened and
even said to
her:
— I felt I
shouldn’t have
taken the coin.
It’s an insult
to other
people’s needs.
This is not
worth much!
His mom looked
at him and
calmly said:
— That would
have been wrong,
my son. You need
to learn that in
life each person
can only give
what he/she has.
This has nothing
to do with what
the person
believes to
have.
Ferdinand was
really surprised
with his
mother’s answer
and asked:
— What do you
mean, mom? I
don’t
understand. He
is really rich!
— Exactly, but
he hasn’t
learned to give
anything from
himself. That’s
why my son, the
coin you despise
is the
opportunity for
your friend to
give something
away.
This, for him,
means a lot. Do
you see
understand what
I mean?
— I understand,
mom.
Donation is a
learning process
we need to
practice — the
boy answered,
admired by his
mom’s wise
words.
— That’s right,
my son.
Selfishness is a
disease that
takes a very
long time to
free ourselves
from. Your
friend is giving
his first steps
to overcome this
disease.
Ferdinand looked
at the coin that
was shining in
his hands and
thanked for the
lesson he just
learned. He made
a frame with the
coin, and hanged
it on his room.
It was placed
somewhere very
visible, so he
would never
forget that
lesson. One year
later his friend
became a part of
the group and
was helping
actively, for
everyone’s
surprise!
Aunt Celia
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