It was Arthur’s first day of holiday. He just started his school holidays today. His mother asked him to help drying the dishes after they had lunch.
Claudia Schmidt
- Oh, mom. I can’t do it! – He said. I don’t want to do anything this time. I am on holiday. I don’t want to work. No way!
On the same day, Arthur also decided not to tidy up his room, wash his tennis shoes and help his mom with the house duties. He just laid in the couch for the whole afternoon. He decided to just stay in the living room watching TV. His mother wanted to oblige him to help her, but decided to do something different...
On the following day Arthur woke up quite late and decided not to help her again. He said:
- I am on holiday. I don’t want to work. No way!
Her mother than challenged her son:
- I bet you won’t be able to stay a week without being able to work!
- I bet an ice cream I can! – Arthur responded.
- Ok, we have a bet! – His mother said.
His mother was called Ana. She then started to watch her son quite closely to see what things he chose to do or make. When he finished reading one of the books he got as a present from his uncle, she said:
- My son, you might not be aware but according to the Spiritist Doctrine we learn that EVERY USEFUL OCCUPATION IS LABOUR. If you read a book, with spiritist stories, this is also labour.
Arthur didn’t want to work and decided to go cycling. He cycled for over an hour. When he got back home, lady Ana recalled:
- Physical exercises are really good for our physical body; hence, it is a useful occupation….
- Right, this means this is work! –Arthur understood the message and decided to drop his bike.
When the boy was starting to get bored, his neighbour Abigail called for him. She wanted to invite him to play with her. They played together for hours and hours. When Abigail went back to her house, lady Ana said:
- Healthy children’s plays are very good for our spirit. They educate us and teach us respect, kindness and collaboration. Hence, they are considered a type of labour.
Arthur couldn’t respond to his mother. He soon switched on the TV and started to watch an interesting documentary on animals.
- To study is a very useful and important occupation, just like watching educational programmes on TV – his mother reminded him during dinner time.
On the same evening Arthur watched a movie he got at rental centre. This was a horror movie with suspense. When Lady Ana walked into the living room and saw what he was watching, she said:
- This is definitely not labour. This is not useful to watch; it will make you feel scared and attracted spiritual companies to this environment who also love violence and fear.
Arthur meditated on what his mother said for a while, but decided to finish watching the movie. His mother then came to say good night to him. She than asked:
- Have you prayed this evening?
Arthur said he did; she smiled and said:
- To pray for yourself and for others is a beautiful and useful occupation... While we are sleeping, we can work and study in spirit...
Arthur just smiled and understood he would not be able to win the bet… This was when he realized his mother, with love and patience, made him reflect about his choices in life. His mother was able to teach him that every useful occupation is labour.
On the following day, Arthur helped his mother with the house duties without complaining. He felt that being useful was an intelligent choice. It brings us well-being and happiness. Work is a precious opportunity to learn and progress. A few days later, mother and son decided to stop working for a few moments and enjoyed a big and delicious ice cream.
Translation: Carolina von Scharten, London, linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies.