The Two Flowerbeds

Joseph and Helena were a cheerful and friendly couple who dreamed of having many children.

Perhaps to satisfy their wish, the Lord sent them, at once, two boys who were named Robert and Albert, and they became the centre of attention of the entire family.

However, Bob and Albie, as they became known, soon showed everyone that if they were identical in appearance, they were quite different spiritually.

While Bob was agitated, would not sleep well and cried a lot, Albie was calm, slept well and was always smiling and good-humoured.

The twins grew up and their parents tried to educate them in the best way possible, showing them how they should act towards other people, animals, plants and everything that is part of our world.

One day, the father called the two children and took them to the garden. Then he showed them two empty flowerbeds, and told them:

- Bob and Albie, you're already eight years old, and I have decided to give each one a flowerbed to take care of. You may choose.

Bob, faster, replied:

- This one is mine! - choosing what he thought was the best one.

Albie, always gentle, accepted, taking the other. Then he said to his father:

- Dad, what do we do with the flowerbed?

- You will take care of it the best way you can, choosing the plants you wish. My only requirement is that once planted, you take good care of the plants that will sprout. Remember, the responsibility is yours!

Albie loved his father's idea and clapped his hands, delighted with the opportunity of dealing with seedlings and seeds. On the other hand, Bob angrily complained:

- Dad, but I'll have to be here taking care of plants? ... I want to do other things! Go out, have fun, play ball!

- My son - the father replied patiently - I want to see how you will accomplish the task I gave you. That's an order! Moreover, you don't need take care of the flowerbed all the time. It'll take you no more than an hour a day and I do not think you will be missing it. So get to work!

	The father turned and walked into the house, leaving the children alone in the garden. At lunchtime, Albie came in with his hands dirty, all happy for the opportunity to plant, heading for the shower. Seeing that Bob did not appear, the father went to the garden to see what he was doing.
He found him sleeping in a hammock between two trees. Without mentioning anything, the father woke him up:

- Son, it is lunchtime. The boy got up, rubbed his eyes and stretched, while apologizing: - I was tired, dad.

By the end of the deadline, the father went to check how the flowerbeds were.

Albie's flowerbed was a beauty. He planted little flowers that were now blooming in many colours, decorating that stretch of the garden.

Bob 's flowerbed was a horror. The plants had wilted, indicating lack of water and care, and dead leaves laid on the dry soil.

- What happened to your flowerbed, Bob? - asked the father.

The boy, ashamed, justified:

- Oh, dad! My flowerbed's soil is bad. The sun beats down on it all the time and therefore the plants got ugly! Albie's flowerbed is in the shadow and that helps a lot. Moreover, my brother's soil is good!…

Listening to what the son said, the father was outraged:

- Bob, you chose your flowerbed! Albie took the one you did not want. Also, son, having a flowerbed that takes plenty of sunshine is crucial for planting. And you had all the water you needed on the tap next to it!

Then, he asked Albie how he had managed to get such beautiful flowers.

- As I could not count much on sunshine, I sought guidance from a shop and they sold me seeds that sprout and bloom in the shade. As for water, I got it with a watering can from the tap and so every day I watered the plants that grew strong and beautiful. It was hard work, but it was worth it!

	Bob was embarrassed. He hung his head, regretting not having worked really hard to accomplish the task that his father had given him. The father, full of pity for the situation of the child who had been unable to seize the opportunity given to him, but fair, said:
- Bob, as you have not valued the opportunity of the task I gave you, I will hand over the responsibility of caring for your flowerbed to your brother Albie, who knew how to work the soil, overcome difficulties and present to me a lush flowerbed.

The father stopped speaking for a moment, looked at his son, and continued:

- Let this be a lesson to you, Bob. Here was a task given to you by your father who, for loving you very much, will give you other opportunities to succeed. But in life, when you grow up, you will realize that things and situations will not always be as easy as a flowerbed. Our decisions in the world, can cause serious problems, insurmountable situations, which we can have solve by doing our best.

- You're right, dad. I know I was wrong. But I promise I'll try harder next time.
 

MEIMEI
 

(Psychographed by Celia X. de Camargo on 23/7/2012.)