One of Jonah's
toys had
disappeared.
Angry and
suspecting that
his three year
old little
brother Luke was
the culprit, he
shouted:
|
- Luke, return
my new red
wagon.
- I don't know
where it is. I
didn't touch
your toy -
answered the
little one.
- You did to.
Tell me where
you hid it,
Luke!
But the little
boy would repeat,
stamping his
foot on the
floor and
crying:
|
 |
|
- Did not, did
not, did not. |
|
Noticing the
commotion and
Luke in tears,
their mother
took the little
one to her lap
and told her
older son:
- Jonah, dear,
you are eleven
and cannot be
fighting with
your little
brother like
this. Luke said
that he did not
do it so trust
him. Look around
properly and
eventually you'll
find your toy.
Puffing with
anger, Jonah
left the room
and started
searching for
his toy. He
searched his
bedroom, the
backyard, the
porch, the
living room and
even the
bathroom. He
couldn't find
his favourite
toy.
Not knowing
where else to
look, Jonah
walked into the
office and
looking at his
father's
bookshelf
thought: - It
can only be
there!
 |
He pulled all
the books off
the shelves.
When his father
arrived, at dusk,
he was surprised.
He found Jonah
lost in a sea of
books,
discouraged.
- What happened,
son? - he asked,
amazed.
- I was looking
for my toy,
dad.
- In my books?
And did you find
it?
|
|
- No, dad. |
|
- Well then, now
put the books
back in their
places.
- But, dad! I'm
tired! -
complained the
boy, grimacing.
With a lot of
patience, the
father
considered:
- Jonah, it was
you who made
this mess.
Therefore, it is
you who should
put everything
away, putting
the books their
places! You can
start now,
otherwise you
will not finish
before bedtime.
They did not see
that Luke had
entered the room,
hid behind the
table and
listened to
their
conversation.
Once their
father left the
room, Luke, with
his cute way,
volunteered:
- Would you like
help, Jonah?
With a big
stack of books
in his arms
which he could
hardly bear, the
older brother
replied
grumpily:
- You?! Get out
of here, brat!
You do not have
the strength to
carry books this
heavy. Now let
me work!
Before long,
Jonah was
exhausted. He
decided to take
a break to rest
and have a snack,
but he was so
tired that he
sat on the sofa
to watch a
little TV and
ended up
napping.
Upon waking up,
he jumped!
- My God! I fell
asleep and did
not put my dad's
books away!
He ran to the
office and had a
big surprise.
|
It was a miracle!
Although
slightly
misaligned, the
books were all
in place!
- Who did it? -
he asked softly
in disbelief.
A cheerful and
crystalline
voice replied:
- I did it!
Luke was
satisfied with
his job,
carrying the
last book.
- How did you do
that, Luke? They
are very heavy!
How could you
carry a stack of
books?
- I didn't carry
a stack of books.
I did it one by
one!
|
 |
Jonah looked at
his brother,
admired with the
work he had done.
He realized that
he had belittled
Luke's help by
judging him
incapable.
However, his
little brother
proved he could
perform that
task.
Certainly, he
could not carry
a great weight
but he had used
his little head
and slowly moved
the books.
Jonah approached
his brother and
embraced him
fondly.
- Luke, today
you have showed
me that we can
always
accomplish what
we put ourselves
to. All we need
is good will and
creativity.
Thank you,
little brother.
The parents, who
were passing by
at that moment
and stopped to
watch the scene,were
also pleased to
see the brothers
embraced and at
peace.
Smiling, their
mother
considered:
- To complete
this lesson,
there is still
one thing
missing, Jonah.
Remember your
little red wagon?
For I found it,
dear. It was
under your
clothes in the
closet.
Blushing with
embarrassment,
Jonah turned to
his brother and
said:
- Luke, I do not
know how to
apologize for
the way I
behaved. Twice
today I
misjudged you
and was wrong.
Also, you showed
me that you are
small in size
but you have a
big heart.
Despite having
been mistreated
by me, you
withstood my bad
temper, my anger,
forgot
everything and
when you saw
that I was in
trouble, helped
me with joy,
performing a
task that was
mine. Can you
forgive me?
Little Jonah
embraced him
with a grin:
- Of course!
Will you take me
for a walk
tomorrow?
Everyone laughed,
pleased to be
part of a family
that had
problems like
any other, but
above all was
happy because
there was
understanding,
generosity and
love among
all.
AUNT CELIA
