|
Albert was a boy
who lived with
his family in a
very humble home
in some densely
populated
neighbourhood on
the outskirts of
town.
Being extremely
proud, that
almost miserable
condition
weighted on him
greatly.
He lived very
quiet, sullen
and sour. He
wanted to be
very rich,
owning a
beautiful home,
expensive toys
and new
clothes. This
way, he was sure
people would
always be near
him and he would
have many
friends.
At home, his
mother worried
about Albert's
attitude, and
when he
complained about
their poverty,
she would say to
him fondly:
- Albert, my
son, it is not
money that makes
the man. You
will not be
happy if richer.
Instead,
cultivate the
values of the
soul which are
imperishable,
that thieves do
not steal, that
moths do not
chew and rust
can not destroy,
as Jesus taught.
To be happy we
must love our
neighbours. |
 |
- Nonsense,
mother! All that
matters is
money. If I were
rich I would
have a lot of
friends and
people would
kneel at my
feet.
The mother,
sadly, realized
that nothing
could convince
his son to the
contrary and
concluded by
saying:
- Life teaches,
my son, and one
day you'll
realize I'm
right.
Actually, Albert
had difficulty
in maintaining
relationships
with people and
had very few
friends, but by
his own fault,
because he did
not value
friendships and
family ties of
affection.
Selfish and
ambitious, he
thought only of
himself and
thought people
disliked him for
being poor.
Concerned, his
mother always
prayed to Jesus
asking Him to
help her son, so
rebellious and
so proud.
One day, Albert
fell asleep and
dreamed.
 |
He dreamed that
he had gained a
lot of money and
was bubbling
with joy. He
bought a nice
house for the
family,
expensive
clothes,
sophisticated
toys, and they
lived
luxuriously,
eating only the
best foods. Ah!
That was the
life! He was in
paradise and was
not even
attending school
anymore. Why
would he? He had
everything we
wanted and more!
However, with
each passing
day, he realized
that things were
not going as he
would
like
them to
be. His
mother,
a
|
|
humble
woman of
simple
taste,
could
not
adapt to
life in
the
comfortable
mansion
and
returned
to the
simple
house in
the
suburbs,
as did
the two
brothers
who
accompanied
her. The
few
friends
he had,
also
finding
all that
luxury
too
much,
did not
feel
comfortable
in that
environment
and
stopped
to call
him. |
Over time, after
a period when
everything was
new, he started
to feel bored.
Before, he lived
starving,
dreaming of
eating delicious
cakes and
sweets, now that
he had them all
at hand, he had
no desire to
eat. He always
wanted to buy
everything, but
now he had money
and could meet
his slightest
whim, he had no
desire to buy
anything. He had
everything!
He walked the
streets trying
to kill time,
but found
everything very
boring and the
shopping windows
did not appeal
to him anymore.
Going into his
mansion, cold
and silent, he
felt immense
sadness. The
solitude weighed
on him and he
ran the rooms
luxuriously
furnished,
giving in to a
huge
disappointment.
He cried a lot.
Belatedly, he
realized that
money could not
buy happiness.
He was alone and
he missed the
love and
friendship of
the people he
had in his life,
things that he
had never given
value.
Ah! How would he
like to be poor
again and feel
the warmth of
the people, the
love of his
family and the
pleasure of the
little things,
like waiting
anxiously for a
simple cake from
the oven,
walking along
the streets
watching the
colourful store
fronts and
dreaming of
owning
everything he
saw or playing
ball with
friends on
Saturday
afternoons. He
was even missing
the routine of
going to school
every day! Ah!
What a fool! If
only he could go
back and be poor
again! But now
it was too late.
Still
meditating,
Albert fell into
compulsive
crying ...
- Wake up, my
son, otherwise
you'll be late
for class!
He opened his
eyes, awakening
in tears in his
bed. As he
realized that
everything was a
dream, he was
relieved.
He got up and to
the surprise of
his mother,
embraced her,
something that
he hadn't done
in a long time,
saying:
- Mom, you were
right. Money is
not the most
important thing
in life. Without
love, money is
worth nothing.
Moved, the
gracious lady
heard the story
of the dream,
thanking Jesus
the lesson He
had provided to
her son.
- Thank God, my
son, you
understand it
now. We will
only be happy in
making the
happiness of
others. It is in
giving that we
receive. And
when we give
love, we receive
love back.
From that day
on, Albert began
to get more from
life,
appreciating the
little things
day by day and
the pleasure of
love, leaving
aside pride and
selfishness, and
demonstrating to
others how much
he loved them.
Auntie Célia
|
