( from 'Like The Flowing River - Paulo Coelho' )

The Two Jewels

From the Cisterian monk, Marcos Garria, in Burgos Spain.

'Sometimes God withdraws a particular blessing from someone so that the person can comprehend Him as something other than a being of whom one asks favours and makes requests. He knows how far He can test a soul, and never goes beyond that point. At such moments, we must never say : " God has abandoned me." He will never do that, even though we may sometimes abandon Him. If the Lord sets us a great test, He always gives us sufficient - I would say more than sufficient - grace to pass the test.'

In this regard, one of my readers, Camila Galvao Piva, sent me an interesting story, entitled

'The Two Jewels'

A very devout rabbi lived happily with his family - an admirable wife and two beloved sons. Once, because of his work, the rabbi had to be away from home for several days. During that period, both children were killed in a terrible car accident. Alone, the mother suffered in silence. However, because she was a strong woman, sustained by faith and trust in God, she endured the shock with dignity and courage. But how was she to break the tragic news to her husband? His faith was equally strong, but he had, in the past, been taken into hospital with heart problems, and his wife feared that finding out about the tragedy might cause his death too. All she could do was to pray to God to advise her on the best way to act. On the eve of her husband's return, she prayed hard and was granted the grace of an answer. The following day, the rabbi arrived home, embraced his wife, and asked after the children. The woman told him not to worry about them now, but to take a bath and rest. Some time later, they sat down to lunch. She asked him all about his trip, and he told her everything that had happened to him; he spoke about God's mercy, and then again asked about the children. The wife, somewhat awkwardly, replied :

' Don't worry about the children. We'll deal with them later. First, I need your help to solve what I consider to be a very grave problem.'

Her husband asked anxiously :

'what's happened? I thought you looked distressed. Tell me everything that is on your mind, and I'm sure that, with God's help, we can solve any problem together.'

'While you were away, a friend of ours visited us and left two jewels of incalculable value here for me to look after. They're really lovely jewels! I've never seen anything so beautiful before. He has since come to claim them back, and I don't want to return them. I've grown too fond of them. What should I do?'.

'I can't understand your behaviour at all! You've never been a woman given to vanity!' . 'It's just that I've never seen such jewels before! I can't bear the idea of losing them forever.'And the rabbi said firmly : 'No one can lose something he or she has not possessed. Keeping those jewels would be tantamount to stealing them. We will give them back, and I will help you make up for their loss. We will do this together today.'

''As you wish, my love. The treasures will be returned. In fact, they already have been. The two precious jewels were our sons. God entrusted them to our care, and while you were away, he came to fetch them back. They have gone.'

'The rabbi understood. He embraced his wife, and together they wept many tears; but he had understood the message and, from that day on, they struggled to bear their loss together.