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Spiritism for Kids - Célia Xavier Camargo - Portuguese  Spanish
Year 2 - N° 92 - February 1, 2009

 

Translation
CAROLINA VON SCHARTEN - carolinavonscharten@yahoo.com

 


For one coin

 

Ferdinand was child with a very good heart, and sensitive to other people’s suffering.

One day, as he passed by a peripheral street, he saw a very poor house with two children playing by the door. 

Following his intuition, he approached them. He became aware they didn’t have a father and their mother was working to pay the bills. They said they haven’t eaten anything on that day, and would only eat when their mom came back from work. 

Ferdinand felt pity for them and decided to help, but how? He didn’t have any money either. His dad worked really hard so they would have enough to eat at home. He had an idea. He could contact his friends. He couldn’t do much on his own, but with their help they could do a lot.  

He gathered his friends together and told them his plan. If each of them contributed a little bit, they would be able to help that family. They all approved the idea and decided to ask their parents, neighbors, and other friends for help. If more resources became available, they could help other families in need.  

Not only they received food, clothes and shoes, but also each of them dedicated their time to the children,   improving   domestic   and    personal

hygiene practices; and helping them with their homework. Little by little, they managed to help other families in need around the same area. They were all happy and optimistic.

Ferdinand decided to ask one of the richest boys at school to help them. He was very disappointed when the boy replied:

— I have nothing to give away.

— What? You are one of the richest boys at school! — He said.

Ferdinand insisted and, against his will, the boy took a coin out of his pocket and said:

— This coin is all I can give.

Ferdinand was flabbergasted. He felt like not taking it. The coin wasn’t worth much. Therefore, he decided to take the coin and walked away.

 He was so angry when he got back home, told his mother what happened and even said to her:

— This coin is all I can give.

Ferdinand was flabbergasted. He felt like not taking it. The coin wasn’t worth much. Therefore, he decided to take the coin and walked away.

 He was so angry when he got back home, told his mother what happened and even said to her:

— I felt I shouldn’t have taken the coin. It’s an insult to other people’s needs. This is not worth much!

His mom looked at him and calmly said:

— That would have been wrong, my son. You need to learn that in life each person can only give what he/she has. This has nothing to do with what the person believes to have.

Ferdinand was really surprised with his mother’s answer and asked:

— What do you mean, mom? I don’t understand. He is really rich!

— Exactly, but he hasn’t learned to give anything from himself. That’s why my son, the coin you despise is the opportunity for your friend to give something away. This, for him, means a lot. Do you see understand what I mean?

— I understand, mom. Donation is a learning process we need to practice — the boy answered, admired by his mom’s wise words.

— That’s right, my son. Selfishness is a disease that takes a very long time to free ourselves from. Your friend is giving his first steps to overcome this disease.  

Ferdinand looked at the coin that was shining in his hands and thanked for the lesson he just learned. He made a frame with the coin, and hanged it on his room. It was placed somewhere very visible, so he would never forget that lesson. One year later his friend became a part of the group and was helping actively, for everyone’s surprise!

                                                        Aunt Celia

 



O Consolador
 
Weekly Magazine of Spiritism