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Spiritism for Kids - Célia Xavier Camargo - Portuguese  Spanish
Year 9 - N° 439 - November 8, 2015

Translation
Johnny Silveira - silveirajohnny@yahoo.com
 

 

Coming Home

  

An old man was sitting on a park resting from his daytime activities. With satisfaction, the old man was inhaling the scent of the flowers when he saw a fourteen year-old young man approach and sit on a nearby bench.

The ragged boy looked sad and discouraged.

What would the kid be doing outside at that time? It was evening and people went by rushing toward their homes.

Pained, the kind old man approached him conversationally. Soon he learned that the boy had left home wishing to live on his own. Then he asked the boy with a calm voice:

- Do you like stories?

At a nod from the boy, he said:

- Well, I'll tell you a story that has been told by Jesus nearly two thousand years ago.

And the old man began to tell it while the boy listened intently:

- A man had two sons who were his pride and joy. One day the younger one said to his father: Give me the part of your wealth that belongs to me. The father, on that request, divided his assets, giving each child what would be theirs as their inheritance. A few days later, the younger son packed up and left for a distant country.
 

Finding himself free from parental authority, the young man, who was not very wise, spent everything he had with drinks, women and games. When he realised what he had done it was too late. He was in abject poverty. He had nowhere to sleep or what to eat.

At that time, a major drought hit the region and hunger spread out. Without resources, the young man asked to a man in that country to whom he told his misadventures for help, and who feeling sorry for the young man, sent him to his fields to look after his pigs.

The pigs fed on carob seeds, that is, the fruit of a tree called carob, which are some pods of fresh and nutritious pulp used to feed animals. However, not even the pigs’ feed they gave him, and he became very hungry. He then remembered his home and missed his father very much because he had always been very good to him. He regretted what he had done and noted that in his father's

house everybody was well cared for and lived happily. And he right then had nothing to eat! So the young man made a decision:

- I know what I'll do. I will come home and say to my father: Father, I have sinned against heaven and you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But if you accept me, I will be a simple employee in your home.

Filling himself with hope the young man did so. He returned to his country and to his home. The trip was difficult and tiring, because he did not have any resources for the travel expenses. He did not get discouraged though, and firmly continued his journey home. His father saw him from far away and was pained to see the child's state of misery. Full of compassion he ran to meet him, hugged him and

kissed him fondly.  

And the son said to his father:

- Father, I have sinned against heaven and you and am not worthy to be called your son. I would be happy if you accepted me as an employee of your home.

The generous father who had never stopped loving his son, ordered the employees:

- Bring the best robe for my son! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Let us feast and be glad, for my son was lost and is found, was dead and is alive again!

And so it was done. When the eldest son returned from the fields and heard the sound of music and partying, he asked one of the servants what was going on. The servant said: Your brother returned safely and your father has killed a fat cow to celebrate his return.

Angry and full of jealousy, the eldest son did not enter the home. His father was told what was happening, and went to meet with him, and the son showed his anger:

- Father! For many years I have served you, making all your wishes but I have never gotten even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. However, my brother, who spent his money on pleasures, is received with a big party!...

The good father, wanting to lead him to kindness and forgiveness, told him:

- My son, you are always with me and all that is mine is yours too. But it's just that we rejoice with the return of your brother, who was lost and is found, was dead and is alive again to our joy.

*

Night had fallen completely and slowly the square lights were lighting up.

The old man fell silent. The boy, who had remained thoughtful, sighed. With an air of deep understanding, he turned to the old man, whispering with an emotional voice:

- I got the message. You managed to convince me. I will return home. My parents must be concerned about my absence and I know they will be happy to see me.

He stood up and stretched out his hand to the old man concluding with tears in his eyes:

- Thank you. After all, there is no better place than our home, and there is no problem that a little understanding and goodwill cannot solve.

AUNT CÉLIA



 



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