WEB

BUSCA NO SITE

Edição Atual Edições Anteriores Adicione aos Favoritos Defina como página inicial

Indique para um amigo


O Evangelho com
busca aleatória

Capa desta edição
Biblioteca Virtual
 
Biografias
 
Filmes
Livros Espíritas em Português Libros Espíritas en Español  Spiritist Books in English    
Mensagens na voz
de Chico Xavier
Programação da
TV Espírita on-line
Rádio Espírita
On-line
Jornal
O Imortal
Estudos
Espíritas
Vocabulário
Espírita
Efemérides
do Espiritismo
Esperanto
sem mestre
Links de sites
Espíritas
Esclareça
suas dúvidas
Quem somos
Fale Conosco

Spiritism for Kids - Célia Xavier Camargo - Portuguese  Spanish
Year 10 - N° 469 - June 12, 2016

Translation
Johnny Silveira / silveirajohnny@yahoo.com
 

 

Mary's Envy

  

Mary started to become discontented with life. Everything for her was bad and nothing she had pleased her. Her mother, noting her daughter's behaviour, got worried. 
 

One day, Mary complained of her situation, saying she had nothing and wanting to be like her friends who had everything they wanted. 

Full of patience, her mother invited her for a walk, as her daughter constantly complained about always being at home. She accepted grudgingly because that day she was particularly unhappy. 

Mary and her mother walked around the neighbourhood, bought some ice cream and settled on a park bench in the shade of a beautiful tree. While having the ice cream, the mother asked: 
 

- Mary, why have you been so upset lately? We give you everything, honey! Are you having problems at school? I see you always angry, complaining, and I do not understand why as you lack nothing. What is happening to you? 

The girl gave the ice cream a lick then sighed: 

- Mom, my friends have everything. I am the only who needs to ask for what I want. I have friends who are always wearing new clothes and new shoes, even have new toys! In class I am the only one who wears old clothes, shoes and plays with old toys. It’s not fair!... 

The mother thought for a moment, then asked: 

- Are you sure about that, darling? I do not think your "whole" class only has new things! You have poor friends, others are children of parents who work hard and certainly can’t afford to give luxuries to their children. What you're feeling is called jealousy and it is very ugly. 

- Mom, are you doubting me? - asked the little girl, her voice rising angrily. 

- No, honey. However, I know those people better than you, and I noticed that there are students in your class with great difficulty; I see them with old but clean shoes; with shabby but well pressed uniforms. As for toys, I can’t say anything because I've never seen those students with toys at school! 

Right then, one of the children passed by them, a classmate of Mary, and her mother smiled at the boy. 

- Hello, Luke! How are you? 

- I am fine, dona1 Vera. Are you resting a little? 

- We are enjoying the pleasant shade of this beautiful tree. Sit here with us, Luke. 

- Just a little bit, dona Vera. I have to take a message to my mother. She washes clothes for a man who is about to go on a trip and asked her to get his clothes ready as soon as possible. So I'll sit down just a little. And while we talk, I’ll rest! 

The mother looked at her daughter, who had her eyes wide with amazement: 

- Your mother washes clothes for other families? 

- Yes, Mary. And she washes them really well, everyone likes her service. I know it because I deliver the clothes and hear the praise of her clients. If you need it too, just talk to me and I will stop by your house, pick up the dirty clothes and then return them clean and smelling great! 

Mary hung her head, not knowing what to say. Her mother smiled and thanked the boy: 

- Luke, I'll accept your offer. Will it not be too heavy for you? 

- On the contrary, the more I work, the more I help my mother. Also, I have a little cart where I put the clothes. My father died in an accident when I was two. So, I help my mother; I have a younger brother who is sick and needs attention. 

Mary heard her classmate’s words and felt like crying. In fact, she did not imagine that someone could have so many problems in life. Then she asked: 

- Luke, you always seem so happy, content with life... How do you do it? 
 

The boy smiled at her, explaining: 

- I have found out, Mary, that sadness does not help us at all. I learned from my mother that the best is to always be happy with everything. Our life could be worse! Take our classmate Paula, for example! 

- What about her? - Mary asked curiously. 

- Paula has three younger brothers. Two were born with a heart condition, which runs in the family. The other fell from a tree and broke his leg. As their mother could only get him seen by a doctor hours later, there was a problem and he does not walk right anymore. So Paula is helping her mother by taking care of her three brothers so that she can work,

helping their father with the household expenses. 

- I didn’t know, Luke! She always seemed so well! ... 

- Mary, it is just that to always cry and complain about life does not solve our problems. What helps is action to improve the situation. And joy is a great remedy that God gives us to be able to overcome the difficulties with love. 

- Joy? But your life is so hard, Luke! - Mary replied. 

- But if I lived crying in the corners, I would not help to solve our problems at home. We would all be sad and not improve the situation. Only love and happiness will help us maintain our thoughts elevated and trusting in Jesus! 

Mary gave her friend a tight hug, and her mother hugged the two happily. 

- Luke, from today, I am available for whatever you need, whether to help your mother or any family in difficulty. And I'm sure that my mother would also like to help, isn’t it, Mom? - proposed Mary, decisively. 

Luke smiled, pleased with Mary’s new disposition to help others. 

MEIMEI 

(Psychographed by Celia X. de Camargo on 04/04/2016.)


1 In Brazilian society, Dona is a term of respect that is used with the woman’s first name.



 



O Consolador
 
Weekly Magazine of Spiritism