Charlie and
Fernando were
neighbours and
loved to play
together. But
suddenly
everything
changed.
One day, on a
Saturday, as
usual, the
neighbourhood
friends decided
to
play football.
The match was
hard for both
sides. But
taking advantage
of an
opportunity,
Fernando scored
a goal. Charlie,
who was on the
other team did
not like it.
At the end of
the match,
Fernando
approached the
friend of many
years joking:
 |
- See? We won!
We're better
than you!
After all, it is
normal that a
team loses and
another wins!
But
Charlie, who was
a sore loser,
was upset. He
let anger take
over his
heart, rising to
his head, and
red with anger,
responded:
- You won
because we let
you!
The friend was
angry with him
and Fernando did
not understand
why.
They started
eyeballing each
other: |
- You do not
know how to
lose, that's the
truth.
That afternoon,
they went back
home without
talking and
their
friendship was
never the same.
Fernando, trying
to improve the
situation, went
to Charlie's
house and
invited him to a
snack, but he
declined.
Fernando went
away sad. After
that, whenever
they met,
Charlie would
turn his face
away.
Because of
Charlie's
reaction,
Fernando began
to feel anger
for him
filling his
heart, and
started to react
the same way.
At school, the
teacher noticed
the change in
the behaviour of
the two
students and
invited Fernando
for a talk. He
told her the
reason for
the
misunderstanding,
ending by
saying:
- Teacher, now
I'm also angry
at him. He'll
see! I once
heard my
father say that
in life, it must
be "an eye for
an eye, a tooth
for a
tooth." So it
will be! ...
Desiring to
help, she said:
|
- Fernando, I
understand what
you mean: you
will strike
back,
returning the
offense with
another offense,
as it comes to
you.
However, this
idea has now
changed! Those
words were
spoken by Moses
who lived long
before Jesus.
When He came to
the world, the
Master
taught us to
react
differently, not
resisting the
evil that might
come
our way. If
someone slaps
you on one
cheek, offer the
other cheek
also.
|
 |
|
The boy was
surprised by
those words. His
parents said
they
were
Christians but
did not have the
habit of
speaking of
religion or
attending
church. |
- Ah! Teacher!
You want me to
let him beat me
and still turn
the other
cheek? I'm not a
coward, I am
brave! ...
She smiled at
the indignation
of the boy.
- No, dear! With
those words,
Jesus wanted to
show us that we
should
not respond to
evil with evil,
because the
fight will never
end. If we
react with good,
with peace,
everything ends
up being fine.
There is
more courage to
not react to an
insult than to
pay back. This
means
that you are
stronger and
braver than the
other.
Fernando was
silent for a
moment, then
asked:
- You really
think so?
- Yes, and I
will tell you
more: The enmity
that now exists
between
you is not just
because your
team have won
the game. It is
the feeling
of anger that
has taken place
in the heart of
Charlie, and
then yours.
Fernando, you
were such good
friends! Do
something to
change this
situation.
Friendship is
something very
precious to be
discarded like
this!
The boy thought
a little and
agreed, saying
he would try. He
thanked
the teacher and
returned home
thinking about
how to change
the
situation.
He fell asleep
thinking about
the problem.
Contrary to his
habits, he
asked Jesus to
help him repair
their
friendship. He
knew that
neither
was happy that
way.
The next day,
Fernando got up
early but as it
was Saturday, he
would
not have class.
His mother, busy
in the kitchen,
asked him to go
and
buy some things
that she needed.
Fernando went to
the supermarket,
chose what he
needed and
headed to
the cashier. It
was then that he
saw that Charlie
was with a bag
of
sugar on his
hand, all
embarrassed
because he could
not find the
money
to pay.
As the line grew
behind them, red
with shame, he
searched his
pockets,
but nothing! It
was then that
Fernando pulled
out the money
his mother
had given him
and said to the
impatient
cashier lady:
- Do not worry.
I will pay.
Charlie turned
to see who was
helping him.
Seeing Fernando,
he did not
want to accept,
but the other
insisted:
- Rest assured,
Charlie, we're
friends. And if
I needed, I'm
sure you
would do the
same for me.
Charlie noticed
that in
Fernando's smile
there was no
intention to
humiliate him,
but exactly the
opposite, he was
as friendly as
usual.
Charlie
gratefully
accepted. That
solved the
problem, for
soon they
were both
walking down the
street together.
As they were
approaching his
home, Charlie
said:
- Fernando, I
appreciate your
help today. I
acknowledge that
I have
not acted right
with you and I
hope you can
forgive me. I
got angry
for a stupid
reason and I am
ashamed of it
now.
- Do not worry.
I also did not
behave well,
reacting the
same way. But
I never stopped
wishing you
well. And this
afternoon, there
is
football. Let's
go?
- Let's go! -
Charlie agreed,
smiling.
They hugged and
everything was
back to normal.
On Monday,
arriving at
school, Fernando
told the teacher
what had
happened, and
then added:
- If it were not
for your help,
nothing would
have changed.
Thank you
very much, Mrs.
Norma!
- In fact,
Fernando, "you"
took advantage
of the
opportunity that
arose.
Congratulations!
- Thanks to
Jesus, teacher!
Now I'll be more
interested in
the Gospel
and will
motivate my
parents to do
the same. I
realized that
the
lessons of Jesus
are the answers
to our needs. If
we know how to
apply
them, they
really work! ...
Meimei
(Psychographed
by Celia Xavier
Camargo, on
20.06.2011.)
