Little Nelly was
in first grade
and learning to
read. One day,
the teacher led
the students to
the school
library. Nelly
picked up one of
the books and
opening at
random she read:
- Cha… ri… ta…
ble. Charitable!
What is it?...
Then she called
her teacher who
came to answer
the call.
- What is
charitable,
Teacher Martha?
|
- Charitable is
the person who
helps people.
When they gather
many things such
as money,
objects,
furniture,
clothing , etc.,
to give to those
who have
nothing, it is
called charity.
Thus, it is said
that the person
is charitable!
- Oh... you mean
that with all
that someone
gathers, they
become rich of
things?
- Exactly,
Nelly. But why
would you want
to know about
this?
|
 |
The girl thought
for a moment,
then said:
- It is just
that, as you
explained, if
someone is
charitable they
are rich too —
she pensively
responded to the
teacher, who
added:
- But we have to
consider the
condition of
each one with
regard to
riches! If the
person does not
have material
wealth, but has
moral wealth,
they are also
rich!
- What do you
mean? I do not
understand! —
retorted the
little girl,
distressed.
- Jesus taught
us that a person
may be
materially and
spiritually
rich. Thus, it
may happen that
they are not
rich of material
things but are
rich of
spiritual
things! For
example: Do you
remember Dona1 Amelia,
who is always in
front of the
school? She is
poor of material
resources but
rich of moral
values.
- I do not
understand,
Teacher - said
the little girl,
her mind
confused.
- I will
explain, Nelly.
Does Dona Amelia
have material
possessions?
- No! — the
little girl
said, promptly.
- Very good. Is
she rich of
moral values?
- I do not know,
Teacher!
- How does she
treat all the
people she
meets?
- With a smile,
a good word!…
- That's right,
Nelly. What else
Dona Amelia has
that is good?
Nelly began to
notice what Dona
Amelia did
without
receiving
anything in
return for her
affection:
- Dona Amelia
never complains,
she does not
speak ill of
anyone, she
helps those in
need without
asking for
anything. She's
good, kind,
loving and does
not ask for
anything in
return. She is
always smiling
at anyone who
passes by her on
the street!
Ah!... And even
when in traffic,
she sees to it
that people do
not cross the
street when
there is a red
light.
- Nelly, do you
see how many
good things Dona
Amelia has
within her?
- You are right,
Teacher. Now
thinking, I
recognise that
she's a great
person.
- Undoubtedly,
Nelly. You
analysed many
facts that you
have seen about
how Dona Amelia
treats others.
And now, with
all that
information,
what do you
think?
The girl thought
for a moment and
replied:
- I confess that
I find strange
the attitude of
many people,
even from this
school, who
mistreat Dona
Amelia!
As the teacher
only looked at
her curiously,
Nelly added:
- But no matter
what the person
has done wrong,
if they decided
to change Jesus
will assist them
in that change,
right?
- Sure, Nelly.
Although young,
you already have
a very good
little head.
Keep it up!
- Teacher, I
think Dona
Amelia deserves
to be helped by
everybody. Her
life is so hard,
she has nothing.
The other day
she told me that
she lives under
a bridge! I'll
talk to my
mother so we can
give her
something that
she really
needs. Do you
think this would
be good?
The teacher
looked at her
student
admiringly and
said excitedly:
- Yes, Nelly. I
think it's
great! And I
think we could
do more for her.
Perhaps a
campaign to help
her. What do you
think?
 |
The girl was
delighted with
the idea and
decided to ask
everyone at the
school to
collaborate with
something. The
result was so
good that soon
an empty room in
the school was
full of things
that would be
given to Dona
Amelia.
One day, when
they had
gathered a lot
of things, they
invited Dona
Amelia over to
tell her what
they had done
for her benefit.
And Dona Ame-
|
|
lia,
wide-eyed,
looking
at
everything,
began to
say: |
- Thanks! Thank
you, guys! This
table can go to
the Boniface’s
family because
they have
nothing. These
clothes will fit
Elvira’s
children! These
blankets we can
donate to
Isabel, who has
five children
and they get
very cold in the
winter!... I'll
have them come
and collect
these
donations!...
And so Dona
Amelia was
distributing it
all to her
friends in need.
When the
mountain of
things was
finished, the
teacher and
Nelly exchanged
a surprised
look, then burst
into laughter:
- Teacher, Dona
Amelia has no
need for
anything! What
she really wants
is to help
others!...
- You are right!
May God bless
her, Nelly!
1 In
Brazilian
society, Dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman’s first
name.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
21/09/2015.)
