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Once upon a
time, the
drought
destroyed all
plantations in
the fields.
There was no
work to be done
around. It was a
time of need.
People couldn’t
work and get
enough to
maintain their
families. As a
consequence,
they started to
feel hunger.
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The teacher at
the Spiritist
Teachings for
Children in the
spiritist centre
talked about
charity. She
explained to the
children what
was happening.
She said many
families didn’t
have food to
eat. The
children felt
sorry for them
and wanted to
help, but how?
One of the girls
after a while
offered to
arrange a
collection. Each
student would
then bring as
much as they
could. They
would then take
all the food
collected to the
families in
need.
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On the day they
had arranged for
the collection
to be made, the
children brought
the food and
placed them in
the corner of
the classroom.
Some children
were able to
bring lots of
different types
of food and were
cheered by the
classmates.
Beatrice was
only able to
bring a packet
of salt and felt
very ashamed:
— Sorry,
teacher, but I
was only able to
bring this
packet of salt.
Some boys saw
the girl with
her contribution
and hissed at
her. She felt
really bad and
was about to
cry. The teacher
asked the class
to be silent.
She then said,
addressing to
all of them:
— I feel really
sad with you,
guys. It doesn’t
matter the
amount donated
but the effort
made by each
person who
donates. If we
give what we
can, we are
already giving
plenty. The
amount of food
you brought will
be missed much
less to you and
your family than
the packet of
salt brought by
Beatrice.
She then paused,
evaluated the
effect of her
words and said:
— Do you
remember the
widow’s mite?
We read it the
other day. It
comes from The
Gospel According
to Spiritism.
— Yes, I
remember,
teacher! — One
of the boys
said. — This is
a story about a
widow who went
to the temple to
leave her
contribution.
She was very
poor and gave
them two coins.
She saw other
people giving a
lot of money
away and felt
ashamed. Jesus,
when he saw it,
said to the
disciples that
widow gave much
more than the
others.
— That’s right!
You showed you
learned the
lesson — the
teacher said.
The students
felt embarrassed
and didn’t say
anything. On the
other day, they
went to visit
the families in
need. They could
see the
happiness of
those who
received help.
They came back
from the visit
with their
hearts at peace.
They felt really
happy for
practicing
charity. They
then passed by a
poor area and
one of them
remembered they
were close to
Beatrice’s
house. They then
decided to visit
her house.
Beatrice
accepted it
promptly. Once
they arrived at
her place, they
saw a very small
and humble
house, but very
neat and clean.
Beatrice’s
mother greeted
everyone and
offered them a
glass of fresh
water:
— This is all I
can offer you. I
wanted to
prepare a
coffee, but
unfortunately I
ran out of it.
They thanked the
lady for her
welcoming and
said good-bye.
They let
Beatrice behind
with her mother
at the main
entrance.
Marcel, the boy
who started with
the hissing,
felt ashamed.
— I am really
sorry for my
attitude at
school, teacher.
I didn’t know
Beatrice was so
poor!
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— That’s why we
need to respect
others, Marcel.
She gave
everything she
could, just as
the widow’s
mite from
the Gospel.
The boy thought
and considered:
— If we were to
weight the
donations at a
spiritual scale,
her donation
would not just
be of one kilo
but the weight
of all donations
joined
together.
Marcel then
became friends
with Beatrice.
He would visit
her very often
and even help
her
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discreetly
whenever
possible. |
Aunt Celia
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