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Christmas was
getting closer
and closer...
People seemed to
become
friendlier; more
sensitive and
generous to one
another. The
remembrance of
Jesus’ coming to
the world gave
faith and hope
to the people.
There was one
child who didn’t
feel influenced
by the
solidarity that
was happening
around, though...
That child was
called Carly, a
seven year old
girl. Christmas
for her meant
receiving many
expensive
presents:
clothes, shoes
and toys.
She lives in a
very comfortable
home. Her
parents would
always give her
everything.
Whatever she
asked, her dad
would buy her.
This is why she
was not able to
consider other
people’s needs.
When someone
came to her
house asking for
food to eat, she
would dismiss
them straight
away. She never
felt sorry for
anyone. One day
a child came
close to her
when she was playing
in the garden.
The poor child
just wanted to
see what she was
doing, but Carly
soon began to
feel irritated:
— What are you
doing here? Go
away! Go away
before I call
someone!
The child looked
down, with tears
in her eyes. She
then walked away
from Carly. One
day, someone
rang the front
doorbell and
Carly decided to
see who it was.
It was a poor
woman who looked
quite thin and
pale. She was
carrying a baby
in her arms and
seemed to be
hungry.
Carly looked at
her with disgust
and asked what
she wanted. The
woman then
looked at her
with modesty and
explained the
situation:
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— Hi,
girl. I am
not a
beggar. I
have
always
worked and
had a home.
My husband
abandoned
me and now
I can’t
work as I
gave birth
not long
ago. I
need to
look after
my baby.
If I can’t
work, I
will have
to leave
my home
since I
won’t be
able to
maintain
it. We
have
nowhere to
go, dear.
I am
feeling
quite
hungry. My
baby is
crying
because I
haven’t
got milk
to feed
him.
Please,
please
help me!
— There is
nothing
for you
here,
woman. Go
away!
— Please
help me,
little
girl!
Please
call your
mom. I
will talk
to her. I
am sure
she will
understand
my problem
since she
is also a
mother—
the woman |
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insisted. |
Carly felt quite
indifferent to
the woman’s
pledge. She then
said firmly:
— My mom can’t
see you right
now. Please go
away. Otherwise,
I will call the
police.
The unfortunate
woman then said,
once she
realised the
little girl was
not going to
help her:
— I wish Jesus
blesses you,
little girl. I
hope you never
have to go
through what I
am facing right
now.
Carly then
turned away and
came inside her
home. In the
meantime, her
mom came near
her as she was
on her way out.
She then asked
Carly:
— Who was it?
Who rang the
door bell?
The little girl
then told her
what just
happened. Her
mom looked at
her and said,
with
determination:
— Carly, my
dear, you should
not behave like
this. You need
to help the ones
who are in need.
Haven’t I
explained to you
that we should
always offer
something to the
ones who come to
our front door?
We should be
grateful to God
because there is
nothing missing
here in our
house! What if
we were the ones
who had to beg
for food? Jesus
taught us wisely
that we should
do to others
what we want
others do to us.
I hope this
never ever
happens again,
Carly.
The little girl
went out to play
but kept
thinking about
what happened.
She couldn’t
stop thinking
about the woman
and the words
her mom’s said
to her.
On the following
day, Carly’s
school began to
prepare for this
year’s Christmas
party. They
decided to have
a theatre play,
as well as lots
of dancing and
singing. Her
class was going
to stage Jesus’
birth at their
annual school
play.
The characters,
clothing and
scenario were
then chosen.
Carly, who had
light and long
hair, would play
Mary. A
beautiful doll
would be wrapped
up to be Baby
Jesus.
The teacher
explained in
detail what the
play would be
about:
— Each one of
you will need to
put yourself
into the
character’s
shoe. You will
need to ‘live’
the role, as if
this is
happening right
now.
Carly knew
Jesus’ story
quite well,
since her mom
used to tell it
to her.
Therefore, it
was different
this time. She
was going to
play the
character within
the story!...
They began to
rehearse the
play. As the
narrator was
telling the
story, Carly
began to get
more and more
into the
character...
Mary and Joseph
had to leave
their home in
Nazareth and
make a long
journey, even if
Mary was
pregnant. Once
they arrived in
Bethlehem, they
couldn’t find a
place to stay.
They looked
everywhere, but
the town was
full of people.
The lodges were
overcrowded.
Mary and Joseph
were feeling
quite tired from
the journey.
They were also
hungry.
Carly then began
to cry. She
remembered the
poor mother she
decided not to
help the other
day....
Joseph then said:
— Have faith,
Mary. We will
find a place to
stay. The Lord
will help
us!...
Someone let them
stay at a horse
stable... It was
here, next to
the noise and
filth of the
animals, that
Mary gave birth
to her son and
laid him in a
manger. Mary
didn’t have any
clothes for her
newborn baby.
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Carly then
remembered
the poor
woman and
her little
baby. She
regretted
the way
she
treated
them at
her front
door.
Carly now
understood
what it
meant not
to have
somewhere
to stay,
without
food, and
feeling
tired from
walking.
The play
then ended
with the
arrival of
the three
kings who
came to
see the
child.
Christmas
Carols
were then
played in
the
background...
The
Christmas
party
was
a
success.
The
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entire
group
evoked
peals of
applause;
especially
Carly who
represented
her role
with a lot
of passion.
Her mom
then came
to
congratulate
Carly: |
— I never
thought you
would feel so
emotional in
this role, my
dear. You even
cried!
— This play was
very important
for me, mom. You
have no idea how
important!
Carly began to
behave in a
different way
from this date
onwards. She
then began to
talk to every
person who rang
her front door
with respect,
but there was
something
missing.... She
wasn’t 100%
happy...
Something
happened just
before Christmas
that made her
feel quite
amazed: she saw
the same woman
with her baby at
the local bus
station! Carly
then ran towards
her and said,
full of joy:
— Thank God I
found you. I
have looking
everywhere for
you for many
days.
The woman
recognised
Carly. She
remembered the
day she asked
her to leave her
front door.
Carly then
said:
— Don’t be
afraid of me,
please. I am so
sorry for my
behaviour. I
would really
like to help you.
Please, come
with me!
She then asked
the woman and
the child to
come to her
house. She then
said to her mom:
— Mom, this lady
needs our help.
She hasn’t got a
place to live.
Our house is so
big!...
Carly’s mom
agreed with her.
She then said:
— Of course, my
daughter. There
is a spare room
where they could
stay. Besides,
she could help
me look after
the house as
well. I need
someone here to
help me.
The poor woman
said to Carly,
full of
gratitude for
her kindness and
support:
— I don’t even
know how to
thank you,
little girl.
Carly smiled and
said:
— Thank Mary of
Nazareth and her
son Jesus!
Auntie Célia
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