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Weekly Vitamins for the Soul -- December 21, 2004
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Yali Shi
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Dec 21, 2004 00:42 PST
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Weekly Vitamins for the Soul -- December 21, 2004
Christmas Is a Time for Sharing
By Glen D. Kittler
The noise was enough to make Father Bonaventure almost regret having
given this party. The wild Indians are certainly running true to form,
he thought.
The children were indeed IndiansˇXmembers of the Papago [Tohono O'odham]
tribe, and they had gone wild with joy. This was their first Christmas
party, given for them by the Franciscan priests at the San Xavier
Reservation mission south of Tucson, Arizona.
A party? Father smiled to himself. It's more like an uprising. The
children came from poor families who labored on farms that never
produced enough to buy proper food and clothes. "Let the kids have their
fun," Father concluded, clenching his fists to control his impatience.
Games were being played with prizes for the winners, but now Father
began to receive reports that Luis Pablo, just going on eight, was
trying to take away prizes from boys who had won them. Time and again
Father had to force Luis to return a pencil or a scarf or a book.
"Luis!" Father said severely, "why can't you behave?"
"I want to win something."
"Then win something," said Father. "Don't steal it."
But the boy had no luck at all. Whatever the game, he lost. Father
watched him sadly. It was a shame, for these defeats had driven Luis to
the brink of violence. Father was both puzzled and angry.
At the end of the party the children formed a line and to each Father
presented a bag of hard candyˇXthe only gift the mission could afford in
bulk. When Luis' turn came he asked, "Can I have three bags?"
"You cannot," said Father sternly. "One bag to each."
"But I mean empty bags."
"Oh! Well, why not?" Father gave Luis three empty bags and the boy left.
Later, alone in his office, the priest glanced out the window and saw
Luis sitting on the school steps.
Luis had three bags open beside him and carefully, by precise count, was
dividing his candy into them. Then Father Bonaventure suddenly
remembered: At home Luis had two brothers and a sister; they were all
too young to come to the Christmas party. So this was the reason. Father
went to the party room and scooped the remaining candy into a large bag.
He had intended to give the candy to the Sisters, but he knew that they
would not object to what he was about to do. He went outside and
presented the bag to Luis.
"Here's your prize," he said.
"Prize?" Luis asked, astonished. "What for?"
"All during the party I was watching to see which one of you had the
true spirit of Christmas," Father said. "You win."
Then the priest turned and entered the school quickly because he did not
want the boy to see his tears.
* * *
Merry Christmas everyone,
Shi Yali
http://www.sunshin.org
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