A Very Special Friend
        
 

That afternoon, Daniel came home very sad. He left himself fall into a chair, dejected. His mother, who was preparing a snack for the family, asked:

- What is it, my son? You don't look well ...

With moist eyes, the boy explained:

- Mom, you know that my friend Brad is very sick, right? Now he can't even play with me. Before, despite being in a wheelchair, he was happy, we were always together and had a lot of fun. - I know, son. You have been friends since his family came to live near here. Later on, he had polio and because he could not walk anymore, he liked it when you pushed his wheelchair, taking him outside or to play with the neighbours. But what happened now?

- Brad's mother said he can't play nor be visited. He's in the hospital with a lung condition and can't even breathe right! ...

Daniel was sad, concerned with his friend's situation.

- I do not understand, mom! You always say that God is the father of all of us! So why is Brad suffering so much? I have no illness. I never even get the flu! And he, not being enough that he can't walk, now needs to stay in the hospital? Why God gave him such a frail body? It seems like punishment!

The mother looked at her son and saw how much he was hurting because of his friend. She sat down, put him on her lap and hugged him with great love, then explained:

- Daniel, it is not punishment. It was not God who gave Brad a sick body. It is just that God created us all destined to perfection, that is, to make progress in knowledge and feeling. Thus, through the existences, we are always improving. This way, we are all reincarnated spirits, temporarily using a body of flesh. We have lived many lives and brought, from these other lives, the consequences of the problems we caused ourselves or others.

- "Consequences"?... What do you mean, mom? - asked the boy.

- My son, when He created us, God placed us under divine laws which must be respected. Thus, it is Brad's soul, his Spirit who is sick. Everything that appears in the body is a reflection of the diseases of the soul.

Seeing that the boy had not understood, she thought for a moment and continued:

- I'll give you an example: your grandfather Felix has a liver condition. Do you know why?

- Of course I do! You and dad always say that Grandpa Felix got so sick because he had an addiction to drinking!

- That's right! So the problem in his liver is a result of drinking. But he is suffering the damage caused to his body in this lifetime. Thus, through illnesses, we heal our spiritual body, which will be clean and bright. Got it?

- Oh … I see. But Brad did nothing to suffer in this life. He is still a child!

- He didn't in this lifetime, but did in others, Daniel. The important thing is that he will be fine, free of these problems after returning to the spiritual world. And he knows it's for his own sake and is happy to pay his debt with divine justice!

- He is happy ?!... - enquired the boy, not understanding.

- Of course! Have you ever heard him complain about anything?

Daniel thought for a moment and replied wide-eyed:

- No! He never complains about anything! He is always happy and cheerful!

- See how I'm right? So for now, have a little patience because soon Brad will be back home and you can visit him.

A few days later, Daniel learned that his neighbour had returned home and went to see him. He entered the room he knew so well, and found Brad that, when saw him arriving, smiled broadly.

- Why "despite it all"? I'm great! I can't be sad. I have everything I need: a good house, a loving family, I can see, hear, feel and be happy with what I have around me, I can think, reason, study and enjoy my time. Besides, I still have friends! What more could I want from life? I know can't walk, but I do not miss it: I have my partner, who takes me everywhere! Therefore, I am sooo happy! … And I thank Jesus for everything He gave me in this existence.

He stopped talking for a few moments, watching his stunned friend then explained:

- You know, Daniel, I understood that it depended on me being happy or unhappy. If I surrendered to sadness, I would certainly reap only grief and unhappiness. So I always try to keep my thoughts optimistic and elevated, noticing what is good and beautiful in all that surrounds me. So, this way, I only reap well-being and joy from life!

Daniel remembered his mother and acknowledged that she was right. Brad was a very special boy.

- I want to be like you, Brad. I admire you a lot.

Then, not wanting his friend to notice his emotion, he disguised it showing him a box:

-Look! I brought you a new game! It's pretty cool! Let's play?

- Of course! Help me sit on the bed.

And, for hours, both were entertained with the new game. Daniel felt happy. His friend's example had touched his heart deeply.

Taking the decision to change his attitude, he returned home, anxiously. He wanted to tell his mother that she was right about his best friend.
 

Meimei
 

(Psychographed by Celia X. de Camargo on 10/10/2011.)