Doing Good Without Ostentation

Story...
Eleven year old Elisa was a girl who liked to help everyone. It didn't matter if it was a child, an adult, the elderly; she made no distinction. If she was able do something for the person, she did not miss the opportunity.
Besides that, she also liked animals and plants. If she saw an abandoned dog in the street, she would bring it home straight away; if she saw a dried plant, she would water it immediately.



Her parents were good people who educated her, from an early age, to observe the Gospel of Jesus. Every week, on a set day, they studied the Gospel at home, for the girl's great satisfaction and joy.
One day however, her mother went to visit a friend who lived in the vicinity, and took the girl.
On the way there, they ran into a very poor boy who Elisa greeted:
- How are you, Joe? And your family? Look, Mom! See this shirt? I was the one who gave it to Joe!
Her parents were good people who educated her, from an early age, to observe the Gospel of Jesus. Every week, on a set day, they studied the Gospel at home, for the girl's great satisfaction and joy.
One day, however, her mother went to visit a friend who lived in the vicinity, and took the girl.
On the way there, they ran int a very poor boy who Elisa greeted:
- How are you, Joe? And your Head down in shame, the boy replied:


- We're good, Elisa, thank god... - and he walked away.
Later, Elisa saw a lady who was hanging some clothes and drew her mother's attention to her:
- Do you recognize the dress that lady is wearing? It was yours, mom!
The woman, having heard it, nodded with an upset expression and said:
- You are right, Elisa. It was you who gave me this dress, and I thank you. Thank you! You have a very nice daughter, dona (1) Fatima - she completed by addressing the mother.
- I am glad that it is your size, Ana. When I have helped, then a man, and so on. Here it was a pair of shoes, ther clothes or toys.
The mother, with each new mention, felt more embarrassed than the people mentioned by her daughter.
They arrived at the address they were going they returned home. The mother wanted to say something to her daughter, but thougth it best to wait until they got home so they could talk calmly.
Elisa's father, Alberto, was already wainting for them to do the Gospel at home. They sat at the table, Elisa said the opening prayer and her father opened the Gospel. The title was:
" Do good without ostentation."
After the reading, the mother asked if her daughter had understood the lesson, which was providential, and to which she replied:
- More or less, mom. Want do they mean by "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing?"... They are so close that ti is impossible that would happen! ...

- It is in figurative sense, Elisa. Jesus wanted to teach us to be discreet when we practice charity. that is, that when doing good, we do not go out shouting to the world what we did. Got it, dear?

- But why?

- If the people we help are thankful, we have received our pay. We have already received for what we did. God will not give us a reward for our good deed - her father completed,

Elisa looked thoughtful, then she looked at her mother and asked:
= It means that I acted baddly today, isn't it, mom?

- No, Elisa. But it would be better if you had been silent in front of the people you helped.

What did you think of their reaction? - Fatima asked, looking at her daughter with affection.

The girl thought for a moment and said:

- O thought my friends'reactions were strange! They didn't seem be happy!...

- That's right, Elisa. Put yourself in their position. If you were wearing old clother or shoes, thatyou got from someone else because you could not afford them, would you be happy if the person who gave them to you kept commenting on it?

- No, mom. I think I'd feel very ashamed and embarrassed...

- Exactly, Elisa. Nobody is happy in a situation like that, dear. Therefore, it is best to do good and forget about it. The person benefiting will always remember, and that is what the merit is for those who help. God, who knows everything and sees everything, will reward us as we deserve.
- You are absolutely right, mom. Should I apologize to them for what I did?

Fatima immediately raised both her hands, smiling:

- No! ... No way, dear. Your apology would only remind them of what happened. It's like you if kept turning a knife in an open wound, it would hurt again, Just do not mention it again.

- Got it, mom. And god forgive me for what I did without even knowing.

- Do not worry. God is our Father, my dear, and He always involves us with much love. Moreover, He knows you did not mean it.

MEIMEI

(psicographed by Celia Xavier de Camargo on 07/01/2013

Translation: Johnny Silveira - silveirajohnny@yahoo.com

fontehttp://www.oconsolador.com.br/ano6/297/espiritismoparacriancas_ingles.html