|
Once upon a
time, a boy
called Carl
could be seen
without many
friends around
him. He
mistreated
people all the
time, which is
why he was
always alone. He
thought he had
all rights to do
so.
He used to be
nasty to his
friends when
they were
playing
together. He
would always
criticise them
for any mistake
they made. He
would also
mistreat his mom
at home. He
would always
complain about
everything she
did for him,
even though she
dedicated
herself entirely
to the family.
He was rude to
his teacher at
school, and
disrespected her
in front of the
entire class.
Therefore Carl
would react
sensitively when
someone said
something
against him.
Whenever his
friends, teacher
or mother would
call his
attention to
something he did
wrong, he would
get angry. He
always thought
it was unfair
and didn’t want
to talk to the
person who
caught his
attention.
Soon Carl was
all by himself.
He didn’t have
friends to play
or talk to. He
didn’t have
friends even to
go for walks
with. He was
really sad one
day at home.
Carl sat down at
his sofa and
started to
think. His
mother came
close to him and
said:
— Carl, the day
is so beautiful,
my son! Why
don’t you go out
and play?
Her son
whispered and
answered her:
— Who am I going
to play with? No
one wants to
play with me!
— Right, and
then go out for
a walk — she
suggested.
He felt really
unmotivated and
replied:
— It’s not fun
to go on my
own.
The mother felt
sorry for her
child and sat by
his side. He
started to cry
slightly and
asked her:
— Why is
everyone
avoiding me,
mom? The teacher
doesn’t want to
talk to me in
class anymore.
She doesn’t even
ask me to do
anything at
school!
The mother
paused for a
moment and
answered:
— I think you
are made of
glass, my son.
The boy starred
at his mom and
said:
— What do you
mean?
— Carl, you are
very sensitive
to criticism. No
one can tell you
are wrong
because you get
angry with them.
You break
easily, just
like glass. Do
you understand?
On the other
hand, you are
not careful when
talking to
others and end
up hurting them
easily.
— When people
make mistakes,
should I just
shut up? — The
boy said, trying
to justify
himself.
—Jesus taught us
to see our own
difficulties
first and work
to correct them.
As for the
others, it is ok
to point out
things that
could be
improved but it
depends on the
way we say
things to other
people. We need
to do it with
respect and
kindness. Does
that make
sense?
He then
reflected for a
few moments and
said:
— I got it, mom.
I don’t have any
friends
anymore....
His mom then
said:
— Change your
behaviour. Show
them you are
different now
and they will
see you changed.
Be patient and
give it time...
Carl started to
act differently
at school. He
treated the
teacher and his
colleagues with
respect. They
were quite
surprised at
first.
At their break,
he saw his
friends playing
football. He
observed them
playing for a
while. He didn’t
ask to play with
them or
criticised the
way they played,
as he used to do
before. He just
smiled and
cheered when
they scored a
goal.
On the third
day, his friends
were whispering
to each other
and decided to
invite Carl to
play with them.
He accepted it
and thanked them
for the
invitation. His
colleagues were
really surprised
with his
behaviour! Carl
was also
apologising to
his colleagues
whenever he made
a mistake.
His colleagues
started to call
him all the time
to play now. His
mom asked, a
week later:
— How are things
going, son?
He smiled and
said:
— Very well,
mom. Thanks to
Jesus and to
you, mom,
everything is
back to normal.
I am not a boy
made of glass
anymore.
Aunt Celia
|
