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Maddox was
feeling quite
sad. He wanted
to run, play,
climb trees, but
couldn’t. He saw
through the
window the sun
shinning outside
and kids playing
in the street.
He was the only
one who couldn’t
play...
He was feeling
quite nervous
and anxious,
sitting at the
wheelchair. He
looked at his
injured leg.
Maddox broke it
and has to stay
in a wheelchair
for a month ....
He was feeling
quite impatient
for this reason...
His mom entered
into the room
and saw her
child’s face
expressions. She
then asked:
— Why are you
feeling so
anxious, my son?
Are you feeling
any pain?
The boy looked
at her, as if
she didn’t
understand him.
He then said:
— Mom, do you
think it’s
enjoyable to be
stuck in a
wheelchair? I
can’t even go
out and play
with my friends!...
His mom sat down
at the sofa near
him and said:
— Maddox, I
think your
situation is
much better than
most of the
people. There
was so many
children even
who have to stay
in a wheelchair
for the rest of
their lives.
They haven’t got
a choice like
you.
— But I will
have to stay one
month sitting at
this horrible
chair!...
— Son, like I
said, there are
children who
stay their
entire lives
sitting at one
of these. You
just injured
your leg. You
will soon be
able to walk
again. Thank God
for that!
— Me? Being
thankful for
having broken a
leg?...
His mom replied
with serenity:
— Yes! It could
have been much
worse!...
Besides, think
about the
reasons that
lead you to get
injured. Think
about it for a
while. You will
see how God has
been good for
you....
The boy looked
down and
remained silent.
His mom then
suggested:
— Maddox, let’s
get out of the
house for a
little while. I
think it will be
good for you.
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His mom decided
to move his
wheelchair to
the garden and
him close to a
tree. She then
said:
— My son, make
the most of this
time and watch
Nature. See what
you can learn
from it. I will
now prepare our
lunch.
His mom walked
into the house
and left him on
his own at the
garden.
Maddox looked at
the plants and
birds around him.
He felt fresh
air blowing
outside. He
looked at a tree
in front of him
and noticed |
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the
ground was
covered in dry
leaves. He
noticed the top
of the tree had
little tree
sprouts. He also
saw birds
creating nests
with dry
branches of
trees.
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He paid close
attention to the
garden and saw
ants, insects
and small
animals using
the tree as
their shelter.
He looked at the
ground and saw
that, in the
middle of the
flowers his mom
cultivated,
there were new
plants growing.
Maddox thought
for a while at
everything he
could see around
him. He then
looked at
himself for a
moment. He
learned at
school that our
body cells renew
themselves,
replacing old
cells with new
ones. This is a
permanent and
constant work,
that happens
automatically in
our body system.
Maddox then
thought:
— I need to have
Nature’s
patience. It
works all the
time, non-stop.
I also have to
develop patience
to recover from
my injury.
Maddox then
remembered when
he got injured.
He felt quite
irritated with
Sara, his
younger sister.
She took his
bike without
asking for
permission. He
felt quite angry
when he saw she
had his
favourite bike.
He felt so angry
he acted with
impulse. He got
a piece of wood
and decided to
beat her up with
it. The little
girl started to
scream once she
saw he was going
to attack her.
— Help! Mom,
please help!
Maddox stumbled
over the root of
a tree and fell
on the floor. He
then felt a lot
of pain and
couldn’t get up.
He injured two
bones once he
fell at that
point.
Maddox began to
cry once he
remembered all
facts that
happened. If he
didn’t fall
down, he would
have hurt Sara!
He then
recognised God
was so good to
him. He avoided
him to act in a
way that he
would regret for
the rest of his
life. He then
decided to pray
to thank God for
the help
received.
The little girl
came close to
him and said:
— Hi, Maddox!
Are you feeling
better?
— Yes, much
better, Sara!
Thank you for
asking — he
smiled. — By the
way, I wanted to
tell you can use
my bike if you
want to, ok?
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The little girl
smiled and
said:
— Is it true?
Are you not
going to fight
with
me?...
— No. You know
what? Since I
will be here for
quite some time,
I want to give
it to you as a
gift! It is
quite small for
me now, in
fact.
She hugged him
and said, full
of gratitude.
— Thank you,
Maddox!
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His mom saw what
happened and
decided to come
close to her son
and talk to
him: |
— Well done, son.
What you have
done is
fantastic.
He then looked
at her and
said:
— His mom was
right. God is so
good and gives
us so much. We
might not
understand what
happens at the
time, but He
knows what is
best for us. He
gives us the
opportunity to
learn to control
our anger and
develop patience!...
Some time later,
Maddox was
feeling much
better. He could
even walk with
crutches. He was
then able to
lead a normal
life. He never
forgot the
lesson he
learned on that
day, though.
Meimei
(Received by
Célia X. de
Camargo, on 15th
November 2010.)
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