Mario felt like the most miserable creature in the world. He had just been fired from the job where he had worked for many years. Sad and without the courage to return home, he sat down on a bench and began to think what to do from then on. He thought of his wife, a courageous woman who
never complained about anything. He did not earn much at his job but it was enough to support them. Mary would perform the miracle of multiplication and the money would always suffice.

Their two sons were good boys. Even though they always needed money for their expenses, knowing that their father earned little, they did not ask for anything.

- What will I do now? - Mario thought,discouraged.

A ray of the sun hit his face reminding him of God. He asked for divine help, on behalf of the family that he loved and needed resources to maintain.

A few minutes later, feeling better after the prayer, Mario saw a line of ants that were carrying loads larger than themselves: pieces of bread, leaves, food scraps that they brought to their colony to share with their siblings.

Mario started paying attention to what was happening around him. Looking around, he saw a bird with an earthworm stuck to its beak and sharing it with her babies in the nest. He saw a frog into the foliage taking food to its young. Thus, he was realizing that all around him, in that small stretch of the square, everybody worked.

He raised his head and saw a lady with a tray adapted to a bicycle, selling sweets by the sidewalk. Further ahead, he observed a stall where a man was selling pastries; farther away, he saw a woman sweeping the street...

Suddenly he thought: If all make an effort and find an activity to earn enough money to live, why would I be different?

So, from that moment, he began to think about what he could do to support his family. Suddenly, he remembered. He had always enjoyed gardening. At his small and simple home he was the one who took care of the garden, which everyone praised!

More excited, he got up and decided to return home. Upon arriving, he met his wife, who was beginning to make lunch. He hugged her and said:

- Honey, I was fired from my job but do not worry. I have decided that I will devote myself to another activity. Stay calm. I trust in God that we will lack nothing!

In his small workshop in the back of the house, Mario found a board that he judged to be the right size. He cleaned it, put a coat of yellow paint on it and then wrote: GARDENING SERVICES AVAILABLE.

Now more lively, when the paint had dried, he put it in the garden for all to see. This part solved, after lunch, Mario took his tools, put them in a wheelbarrow and went around town. He examined the state of the gardens, and finding one that was full of weeds and in need of treatment, he would ring the doorbell. Until he came to a beautiful home.

- Good afternoon, Madam! Your garden is beautiful but I see it is in need of care. I'm good at what I do, I assure you. If you do not like the service, you do not need to pay me – he said smiling.
 

- But it is a beauty, Mario! - She said - What have you done? My garden looks quite different!

- Dona1 Isabel, there were beautiful flower seedlings that deserved to be replanted, and I found a place where they will receive sunlight in the right amount because they do not like a lot of sun. And some others, who need a lot of sun, were in the shade, which did not allow them to flourish as one would expect. That's all I did - he explained, feeling embarrassed.

Isabel smiled, pleased and delighted. Now her garden looked really beautiful!

- How much do I owe you for the job, Mario?

- Whatever you think I deserve.
 

She went in and came back with the money that she gave to the gardener. Taking the notes in his hand, his eyes widened in astonishment: - Dona Isabel, this is much more than I would charge for my services...! She smiled and replied: - Well, I gave you what I think you deserve, Mario. And there's more. I would like you to be my gardener. Every month, at around this time, you can come take care of my garden. But you

seem emotional, Mario! What happened?

Wiping his eyes, he explained:

- You're being my salvation, Dona Isabel. I was fired from his job today and I confess I was desperate...

And he told her all that had happened until he decided to offer gardening services because everyone praised his garden. The lady, also touched, said:

- Well, you can rest assured, Mario. I'll talk to my friends and I'm sure you will not lack work.

Mario left that house with his heart full of gratitude for the divine help that had arrived so quickly.

Now his life had changed for the better. Working as a gardener, he would earn more than when he worked for a company and he would be doing something that really gave him pleasure. He would also have more time to dedicate to the family he loved so much.
 

MEIMEI
 

(Psychographed by Celia X. Camargo on 19/05/2014.)
 

1 In Brazilian society, Dona is a term of respect that is used with the woman's first name. In this case, though, it is meant to show respect towards someone superior in hierarchy.