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Nine year-old
Elizabeth came
home from school
hungry, tired
and a little
upset. The
morning had been
full of
activities and
she wanted to
rest. Not only
that, she still
had chores to
do.
Moody, she
complained:
- I'm tired,
Mom!
- Have lunch,
then rest a
little! -
suggested Ruth,
her mother,
wrapping her in
a loving
embrace.
After the meal,
as usual, Bruno,
her father, sat
on the couch to
watch the news
on television,
and Beth, having
forgotten her
tiredness, sat
down beside him.
Not that she was
interested in
the news. It was
just to make her
father company.
She would only
see him at
lunchtime and
after work,
because when he
left for work in
the morning
while she was
still asleep.
Suddenly, a news
shocked her: a
whole area had
been flooded due
to strong
storms, which
caused the
overflow of a
river. Hundreds
of homes were
destroyed and
families lost
everything.
The girl watched
and saw pictures
of entire
families who had
nothing and had
to go to a
community
shelter, and her
heart was filled
with pity for
the plight of
those people,
thinking: What
if it was us
that had lost
everything?
Also attracted
by the news,
Ruth watched the
images and was
touched by the
testimonials,
full of
compassion.
Beth, learning
for the first
time of a tragic
situation and
wanting to do
something,
proposed:
- Mom! Can we
help these
people? They
were left with
nothing! I'd
like to help!
The mother said
tenderly:
- Of course, my
daughter! Of
course we can
help.
And, given the
interest of the
child to helping
others, Ruth
took the
opportunity and
asked:
- Beth, if you
so desire to
help others,
what do you
think of going
with me to the
slum?
- Where is it,
Mom? Are there
people here who
need help?
- Yes, there
are, honey. Slum
is just the name
that people give
to very poor
neighbourhoods
that need help.
However, since
their needs are
not disclosed,
most people do
not know about
them.
- Oh… I would
like to get to
know this place,
Mom! - said the
girl interested.
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On the appointed
day, Beth and
her mother put
food, clothes,
footwear,
medicines, first
aid kits and
lots of other
things in the
car. When the
car was full,
they departed.
Beth was all
excited. But
approaching the
place, the girl
became
frightened.
There were just
shacks made of
scrap wood and
covered with
plastic.
Once there, Ruth
left the car and
walking up to
one of the
shacks, she
clapped her
hands. The woman
who opened the
door had her
eyes tinkling
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to see
Ruth. |
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- It was God who
sent you, Ruth!
We have nothing
here at home,
and my husband
got injured
yesterday while
returning home
from work. I
still could not
do anything!
With
familiarity, the
newly-arrived
calmed her:
- Do not worry,
Jo. We brought
food – she said,
showing the box
of groceries
that she had
taken from the
car. - Let me
see your
husband.
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The woman took
her to the
bedroom, where a
man was moaning
in pain. Asking
for permission,
Ruth examined
the wound and
said:
- I do not think
it is serious,
but he must
really be in
great pain.
She went to the
car to get the
first aid kit
while Beth
talked to the
couple.
Upon returning,
Ruth dressed the
wound and then
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asking
for a
glass of
water,
gave him
an
analgesic
to take
away the
pain. He
was
relieved
and very
grateful. |
- Only you,
Ruth, would help
us! God bless
you!
From that house,
they went on to
another and then
another and then
another ...
In all of them,
Beth saw the
same gratitude
and the same
affection for
her mother,
which made her
happy and
amazed.
When the visits
ended, tired but
satisfied, Ruth
said to her
daughter:
- Thank God we
are done for
today! Thank
you, darling,
for your help.
The girl looked
at her and said:
- Mom, I want to
help these
people, like you
do. I want to
distribute food,
clothes, make
bandages! ...
The mother
explained to her
that to be
charitable, we
have to give
something that
is really ours,
and exemplified:
- Beth, if you
give food, deep
down, it will be
me doing good.
You can donate
your things:
clothes, shoes,
toys and books
that you are no
longer using. As
for the
bandages, first
you have to
learn to do so.
For now, it's
still a little
early.
The girl smiled,
and the mother
stroked her
hair,
suggesting:
- Also, my
daughter, you
can help in
another way.
Give love! Talk
to people, play
with their
children, pay
attention to
them. And
whatever you do,
do it with love.
Because the
important thing
is not what we
give but how we
do it. Got it?
- Yes, Mom!
- If you like
it, you can
learn to knit or
crochet, and
make clothes to
keep them warm
in the winter.
Over time, you
can learn many
things and teach
them, even how
to read and
write. You know
that most of
these people are
illiterate? What
do you think?
- I like it,
Mom! I will
learn a lot and
pass it on to
them.
- Very good!
Now, let's go
home!
That afternoon
had been very
productive and
they were
satisfied.
Little Beth had
her little head
and heart full
of new ideas
that she
intended to put
into practise.
She understood
that to do good,
it is not
necessary to
look far. Just
look around.
Sometimes the
opportunities
are much closer
than we think!
Meimei
(Received
through the
mediumship of
Celia Xavier de
Camargo on
15/05/2011.)
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