It was December.
The last days of
school brought
joy to the
students because
they represented
the arrival of
the holidays,
parties, trips
and fun.
However, they
also brought
them some
sadness, because
the daily
contact with the
other classmates
which they were
used to and gave
them so much
pleasure, would
cease to exist.
 |
To say goodbye
to her students
at the end of
the school year
the teacher
talked about
Christmas,
explaining the
importance of
the coming of
Jesus into the
world, and
concluded by
saying:
- Never forget
that the
Christmas spirit
is, above all,
sharing what we
have with
others, even if
it isn't much.
That's what
|
|
the
Master
expects
from us:
that we
act like
real
brothers. |
Nick kept with
those words in
mind.
What did he have
to share with
someone? He was
not rich. Quite
the opposite,
his family was
very poor. He
needed the
clothes and
shoes that he
wore. Toys, he
did not have
any. He
remembered the
textbooks that
no longer served
him. Yes, he
could donate
them to some
poor child!
He smiled at
that idea. He
had found
something he
could share.
Privately,
however, he was
not satisfied.
Donating his
textbooks to
someone would
not mean sharing
anything because
he was just
giving up
something that
he did not use!
That gesture was
missing
something...
A few days
later, right
before
Christmas, he
was visiting his
grandfather and
got a coin as a
gift. A
beautiful coin!
- What will I do
with it? I know!
I'll buy that
hot dog I have
always dreamed
of but I could
never afford.
|
Nick ran towards
the hot dog
stall he knew so
well by hearing
people's
praises.
He ordered a hot
dog and, full of
anxiety, his
mouth watering,
could not bear
to wait until it
was ready. He
added sauces and
everything else
that he liked,
and sat down by
the sidewalk to
appreciate it
properly.
Happy, he took a
deep breath and
opened his mouth
to take
the
first
bite. At
that
moment,
he
|
 |
|
noticed
beside
him,
also
sitting
on the
sidewalk,
a dirty
and
tattered
boy,
whose
hungry
eyes
were
fixed on
his
sandwich. |
Nick at first
tried to ignore
the boy. But
those begging
eyes bothered
him.
At that moment,
he remembered
his teacher's
words on the
last day of
school, and
finally
understood what
she meant.
He got up, and
shortly
afterwards
returned with
the hot dog
split down the
middle. He gave
a half to the
boy, who thanked
him with a big
smile, and kept
the other.
 |
And together
they tasted the
delicious
sandwich.
Nick had never
experienced such
a sense of
well-being and
happiness. The
gratitude of the
street kid had a
special meaning
to him.
|
|
He had finally
understood what
the spirit of
Christmas meant.
He managed to
renounce his
desire and share
something he
wanted very
much. He divided
his “bread” with
someone that
needed it more
than him, and he
was sure that
Jesus approved
of his action.
He did not even
know the kid's
name! But what
did it matter? |
He turned to the
boy, who looked
at him with his
bright eyes full
of joy. They
smiled. He had
gained a
friend.
- Merry
Christmas! - he
exclaimed
satisfied.
- Merry
Christmas! -
responded the
boy.
And they hugged
happily.
AUNT CELIA
