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Grandfather
Ernie took
William, his
seven year-old
grandson, to
school.
The boy,
worried, was
walking with his
head down. The
grandfather
noticed the
grandson's state
of mind and
asked:
- Why are you so
silent, William?
The boy gave a
sigh and said:
- Grandpa Ernie,
I'm afraid!
...There will be
a test in our
class and I fear
not knowing how
to answer the
questions. |
- Ah … But have
you not studied? |
- Yes, I did,
Grandpa! But I'm
afraid I will
not do well in
this test, which
means a lot. It
is very
important to me!
The grandfather
looked at his
grandson, who
already had a
crying face and
holding his
hand, reassured
him:
- Stay calm,
William. If you
studied, you
have nothing to
fear. Also,
don't you trust
Jesus?
The boy thought
for a moment and
replied:
- I do, Grandpa.
I just do not
trust myself!
Because they
still had some
time, as they
passed through a
square, the
grandfather
invited him to
sit on a bench.
Then he said:
- William, did
you know that
Jesus' disciples
also were
afraid?
- Is it true,
Grandpa?
- True! Well,
I'll tell you
one fact.
The boy,
curious, for a
moment forgot
about his
concerns,
waiting for his
grandfather's
story, which
always managed
to hold his
attention. And
his grandfather
began to tell:
- One day Jesus
spoke to the
people on one
side of the
shore of
Gennesaret, also
known as the Sea
of Galilee. As
it was late, He
decided they
should go to the
other side.
Then, dismissing
the crowd, they
left on a boat.
It happened that
a big
thunderstorm
came, and the
wind blew the
waves, that hit
against the
boat, filling it
up with water
almost to the
point of
capsizing.
- And Jesus? -
William asked,
startled.
- Meanwhile,
Jesus slept,
serene.
Terrified, the
disciples woke
Jesus up.
- Master!
Master! Save us!
We will die!
And Jesus arose,
and rebuked the
wind and calmed
the sea. Then,
order restored,
Jesus asked his
disciples:
- Where is your
faith? ...(1)
William listened
to the
grandfather, and
in his fertile
head, images of
Jesus on the
boat with his
disciples
appeared,
calming the wind
and storm. Full
of admiration
and respect, he
looked at his
grandfather with
wide eyes:
- Is it true,
Grandpa? Jesus
is very
powerful! If I
were with Him, I
think I would
not be afraid of
anything! ...
Grandfather
Ernie, smiled
and said:
- With that
question, "Where
is your faith?"
Jesus clearly
shows that,
given the more
difficult
situations when
all seems lost,
we need to
maintain
confidence,
because that is
when we
demonstrate the
faith we have.
Got it, William?
- No, Grandpa.
Then the
grandfather
thought for a
moment and said:
- William, when
is it that we
demonstrate that
we are for peace
and not
fighting?
- When a
colleague
irritates us,
and we do not
beat them up!
- That's right,
William! - the
grandfather
said, smiling at
his grandson's
example.
And then he
continued:
- Do you
understand?
Thus, we can't
demonstrate
optimism in our
lives when
everything is
well, and we can
only help
someone else in
times of
difficulty. So,
whenever we pray
for Jesus' help,
we will be
helped, as the
disciples were
in the midst of
the storm. But
we must remind
ourselves to
keep faith when
we are going
through some
trouble.
The boy had a
different
sparkle in his
eyes.
- Grandpa, I'm
no longer afraid
of the test. I
trust in Jesus
and I will
remain calm.
The grandfather,
smiling, agreed:
- That's right,
William! But it
is almost time
for the bell to
ring. Let's go?
 |
They arrived at
the school and
the boy walked
steadily to the
gate. Before
entering, he
turned around
and waved to his
grandfather.
Later on,
when Ernie came
to pick William
up, he was happy
to see the boy
with a big
smile. Running
towards his
grandfather,
William said:
- Oh, Grandpa!
With the help of
Jesus and yours,
I aced the test!
|
|
The grandfather
smiled,
explaining: |
- William, you
did well because
you studied the
subject. You
only lacked
confidence in
yourself. If you
had not studied,
not even Jesus
could have
helped you.
Congratulations
...
And William went
home feeling
happy. He
discovered
within himself a
new feeling of
confidence that
helped him
believe he was
capable of
accomplishing
anything.
Without fear, he
was already
thinking about
the future, sure
he could
overcome all
obstacles that
might arise in
his existence.
He would
accomplish all
his dreams.
Before entering
the house, eager
to tell his
mother the news,
he raised his
thoughts to the
Most High,
grateful:
- Thank you,
Jesus! ...
Meimei
(Received by
Celia Xavier de
Camargo, on
23/05/2011.)
(1) Matthew
8:23-27, Mark 4:
35-41, Luke
8:22-25.
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