Learning from nature

 Reading a story...
 Laura was a good and loving girl. She heard a lecture at the school saying that work is for adults and children only had to study and play.

When her mother asked her to do something, she claimed that she needed to study, or that her friends were waiting to play, watch TV, or simply that she was tired.

 One day, her mom asked as she saw Laura doing nothing; sitting in the kitchen’s doorway:

 - My child, can you please dry the dishes for me?

 The answer came quickly:

 - I can’t, Mom. I'm resting.

Her mom thought for a moment and said:

 - Laura, we all must make our contribution in life working for the general welfare.

- Children have to study and play.  Work is for adults, Mom - the girl said, showing what they had learned at school.

- It’s not like that, my daughter.  Paid work; employment, is for adults.  However,  we must return a little bit, within our capacity, of the huge amount we receive from life.

The woman stopped washing dishes and turned to the girl. She suggested:

- Laura, since you are doing nothing, why don’t you go to the backyard and observe nature? Then come back and tell me what you saw.

Although she didn’t want to, the girl got up and walked out to the backyard. She  didn’t realize anything at first. She glanced through the colorful and beautiful flowers that opened decorating the yard.  She walked a little further and saw an orange tree covered with fragrant flowers. She then saw a bee rushing from flower to flower, removing food from it and then flying to a tree stump where it made honeycomb.
She observed orange trees where some had small green fruit, while others had already mature oranges.
She passed through a mango tree, grabbed a fruit and sat down to enjoy it. She loved mangoes!
She looked up and saw a bird that was picking up sticks on the ground. It led them to a branch at the top of the mango tree, placing them carefully at its nest.

She looked at the floor and saw a line of ants carrying leaves, bark, fruit and bread crumbs to the nest.

Laura admired their sense of organization, walking in an orderly queue. They all carried something. They all worked! 
She returned home after she finished eating the fruit. She washed her hands on the tap in the yard and entered into the kitchen, looking for a towel to dry off her hands.
Her mother saw her and asked:
– So? What did you observe?
–Well, I saw a bee collecting nectar from flowers and take it to produce honey. I also observed that there are orange trees with small fruit while others have mature oranges. I saw our mango tree full of delicious mangoes and caught one to eat it. It was delicious!
The girl stopped talking, thinking.
– What else did you notice, my daughter?
–I also saw ants carrying food to the anthouse. It was as if they had gone to the supermarket to shop! I think that was it.
– And what did you think of this?
– I noticed that you're right, Mom. Everyone works, even the small creatures: a bee produces honey, the tree produces flowers that will turn into fruit, ants bring food for the family, the bird builds her house ...
– Well done, my daughter! And you might have seen even more: insects and small animals that eat ripe fruits that fall into the soil, the land that receives the seed and let it germinate, among many other things.
The girl agreed, excited by the findings:
–You're right, Mom. There is also the sun that illuminates and warms, the water we drink...
–Yes, my daughter. And all for what?
– To make life better and happier for us. Everything in nature works for everyone’s benefit. How come I never noticed that before?
Laura said embracing her mother:
– Mom, I also want to help, collaborating for everyone to be happy. Dad works to bring money so we can buy food and everything else we need. You do all the housework, cleaning, washing, tidying up and cooking. I also want to help doing what is possible. I will work from now on helping you and all of our family. I have always received a lot; now I also want to learn to give.
The girl then remembered she could: water the garden, sweep the yard, walk her dog, dry the dishes, leave her toys and clothes tidy. I'll have plenty to do!
                                                                                                                                          AUNTIE CÉLIA

Source: O Consolador – Weekly Spiritist Magazine

Author: Célia Xavier Camargo

Translation: Carolina von Scharten, London, linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies

Thanks Carolina Von Scharten