The Home of a Spiritist Family
Mrs. G… , widowed three years ago, was left with four children. The
oldest son is a seventeen year old kind young man and the youngest
a charming six year old girl. This family has been dedicating to Spiritism
for a long time and even before this belief had become popular as in our
days, having the husband and wife had a kind of intuition developed by
a number of events. Mr. G…’s father had appeared to him several times
in his youth always to warn about important things and give him useful
advices. Similar facts had also taken place with his friends so that the existence
beyond the grave was not object of doubt to any of them, as well as
the possibility of communication with our beloved ones.
When Spiritism appeared it was only the confirmation of a solid and
sanctified idea by the feeling of a clarified religion, since that family is an
example of evangelical benevolence and charity. They learned about the
most direct means of communication with the new science. The mother
and one of the sons became excellent mediums. Far from employing such
faculties in futile questions they considered it as a precious gift from the
providence, which one could not use but to serious things. Hence, they
never practiced it without respect and worship, and always far from the
sight of the curious and unwelcome.
In the meantime Mr. G… fell ill. Predicting his near end, he gathered
the children and told them:
“My dear children and beloved wife: God calls me to his side. I feel
that I am going to leave you soon but I also feel that you will find the
strength to withstand such separation with courage in your faith in the
immortality, as I am taking with me the consolation that I may always
be among you, helping you with my advices. Thus, call me when I am
no longer with you. I will come to sit by your side and talk to you, as our
ancestors do. In reality we will be less separated than if I had gone to a
distant land. My dear wife I leave you with a huge task but the heavier it is
the more glorious it will be. I am certain that our children will help you to
bear it. Isn’t that true children? You will help your mother; you will avoid
anything that may make her suffer; you will always be good and benevolent
to all; you will reach out to your unfortunate brothers since you don’t
want to have one day to helplessly beg for that yourselves. May the peace,
union and concord always reign among you! May material interest never
split you apart since material interest is the greatest barrier between Earth
and heavens! Think that I will always be with you; that I will see you as I
see you now and even better since I will read your thoughts. Thus, don’t
make me sad after my death in the same way that you have not done in
life.”
The life of that benevolent family is a really inspirational spectacle.
Fed by the spiritist ideas those children did not consider themselves separated
from their father. To them, he is present. They are afraid of doing
the slightest thing that may displease him. They dedicate one evening per
week, and sometimes more, to talk to him. However, the daily needs must
be provided for, considering that this is not a wealthy family. That is why
such blessed conversations are scheduled to a specific day and anxiously
expected by all. Several times the little one asks: “Is it today that Dad is
coming?” That day is spent among familiar conversations and intelligent
instructions, sometimes childish ones, other times grave and sublime.
These may be advices about naughty little things that he observes. If, on
one side, there is praise, there is no lack of criticism and the naughty one turns the eyes down, as if in the physical presence of their father; asks
for his help that sometimes is granted only after a few weeks of trial. His
presence is awaited with avid anxiety. What happiness when their father
says: “I am pleased with you!” The most terrible sentence is: “I will not
come next week.”
The annual party is not forgotten. It is always a solemn day, to which
the grandparents and other family members who had passed on are invited,
not forgetting a little brother deceased a few years back. The family
pictures are adorned with flowers and each child prepares a small essay,
sometimes just a traditional salutation. The oldest writes an essay about a
serious subject; one of the girls plays a piece of music; the little one tells a
story. It is the day of the great communications, and each guest receives a
souvenir from the friends left on Earth.
How beautiful are these meetings, in their touching simplicity! How
much all that speaks to the heart! How can one leave those gatherings not
being saturated by the love of good? Not one look of mockery, not one
skeptical smile comes to perturb the devout worship. Some friends who
share the same convictions as the family, adepts of the same religion, are
the only ones allowed to participate into that feast of love.
You may laugh as much as you want, you who laugh at the most sacred
things. However arrogant and tough-hearted you are I don’t believe
that your pride may remain impassive and cold before such a spectacle.
One day, however, it was a real day of sorrow to that family: the father had
announced that he would be away for some time, actually for a long time.
He had been assigned to an important mission far from Earth.
The annual party was still celebrated but it was said since the father
was not there. When he left he said: “My children, may I find you all
worthy of me on my return”, and each one endeavors to be worthy of him.
They are still waiting!
