The Plastic Sword

Eight year-old Luke liked war and action playing, with activities of attacking and defending, where the stronger would always win.

His toys were mostly guns, pistols, swords and knives. And whenever someone asked him what he wanted as a gift, he would reply: - I want action figures with weapons that make noise and shoot for real! His mother responded, worried about the child's interest for violent toys:

- My son, this is not good for you. How about a game of memory?

- No. I do not want it.

His friends had the same interests as Luke, which generated a greater connection between them and a greater concern to his mother.

One day, a friend of Luke's hit him with a plastic sword which should not harm him. However, the sword was broken and as it hit Luke's forehead, cut it and it started to bleed a lot. Seeing the blood running down his face, the boy ran away screaming: - Mommy! Mommy! I'm hurt! Help! ...
His friends, worried and fearful, disappeared.

Seeing him bleeding, the mother hugged him to calm him down. Then took him into the house, grabbed her first aid box and sitting him down on a chair, said:

- Luke, stay calm. It is nothing and Mom will make a bandage on your forehead.

The boy kept screaming and crying, terrified:

- Mom, it really hurts! Ouch... ouch...

After the dressing was done, his mother gave him some water with sugar, which he drank. And just then she asked:

- What happened, dear?

- It was Robert who hit me with his sword, mom. It is still hurting a lot.

- It will soon pass, dear.

His mother took him to his room and he laid down. As he continued to complain, she considered:

- Luke, you should be glad to have been hit by a toy gun. Weapons are not good for anyone, my dear. They only cause destruction and death. At school, you will learn that wars have been for earthly mankind a source of destruction of cities and the deaths of countless individuals. All that, for centuries, men have built with much effort, wars destroy in a few days.

- Really, Mom?

- Yes, my dear! And what's worse: All that violence is not only outside us, but within our heart. When we are angry with our brother, our feelings are tainted by the same destructive violence, and all we got with great effort is quickly destroyed.

- You're right, Mom. When I am playing war with my friends for fun, I feel angry at them as if they really were my enemies - said the boy, worried.

- It's true, son. That is why Jesus, when the soldiers came to arrest him and Peter drew his sword to defend Him, said to Peter, "Put thy sword into the sheath ..."

- Why, mom?

- Because we will never improve ourselves attacking others. With a sword in hand we will never achieve goodness, have true friends and be happy like we desire. Jesus knew He had to fulfill His mission to the end, leaving to us a lesson of LOVE and PEACE.

- Got it, Mom. We can play in other ways, can't we?

- Certainly, Luke. And you will see that it will be more enjoyable for you and your friends.

The boy agreed and decided, excited:

- So tomorrow no more violence!

MEIMEI

(Psychographed by Celia X. de Camargo on 15/07/2013.)