Away with the Wind

 

On the lawn of a public garden, in the warm spring sun, amidst the tender grass, the robust, toothed leaves of dandelions had sprouted. 

One of them displayed a magnificent yellow flower, innocent, golden and serene like a May sunset. 

After a while, the flower turned into a "showerhead": a light sphere, embroidered with feather crowns attached to seeds that were tightly packed in the center of the showerhead.

And how many conjectures the tiny seeds made. How many dreams the breeze made at dusk, when the first timid crickets sang their serenade.

"Where are we going to germinate?"

"Who knows?" Yes.

"Only the wind knows."

One morning, the showerhead was grabbed by the invisible and strong fingers of the wind. 

The seeds were attached to their small parachute and flew away, caught by the air current.

"Goodbye... goodbye," the little seeds greeted each other.

While most landed on the good soil of orchards and meadows, one, the smallest of all, made a very short flight and ended up in a crack in the cement of a sidewalk. 

There was a hint of dust deposited by the wind and rain, so small compared to the good, fat soil of the meadow.

"But it's all mine!" the seed said to itself. 

Without a second thought, he snuggled up tight and got to work on the roots.

In front of the crack in the cement was a leaning, scribbled-on bench. A young man often sat on that very bench. He was a young man with a tormented face and a restless gaze.

Dark clouds weighed on his heart and his hands were always clenched into fists.

When he saw two jagged, tender green leaves pushing their way through the cement, he laughed bitterly: "You won't make it! You're just like me!" and stepped on them with his foot.

But the next day he saw that the leaves had risen and become four. From that moment on, he couldn't take his eyes off the stubborn and brave little plant. After a few days, the flower appeared, bright yellow, like a cry of happiness.

For the first time in a long time, the grieving young man felt the resentment and bitterness weighing on his heart begin to melt. 

He raised his head and took a deep breath. He slammed his fist on the back of the bench and shouted, "Of course! We can do this!"

She felt like crying and laughing. She touched the small yellow flower head with her fingers.

Plants feel the love and kindness of humans. For the brave little Dandelion, the young man's caress was the most beautiful thing in life.

Don't ask the Wind why it brought you here.

Even if you're drowning in cement, work from your roots and live.

You are the message.

- Bruno Ferrero -

From: "Solo il Vento lo Sa", by Bruno Ferrero, Ed. Elledici.

Alms

  Long ago, in England, a damsel wrapped in a torn dress walked through the streets of a village, knocking on doors and begging for alms. Many addressed offensive words to her, others incited the dog to let her escape. Someone poured pieces of moldy bread and rotten potatoes on her lap. Only two old people let the poor woman in.

«Sit down and warm up,» said the old man, while his wife prepared a bowl of hot milk and a large slice of bread. As the woman ate, the two elders gave her some words and a little comfort.

The next day, an extraordinary event occurred in that village. A royal envoy brought to every house a card inviting all families to the king’s castle. The invitation caused a great stir in the village, and in the evening all the families, dressed in the robes of the feast, arrived at the castle. They were introduced into an imposing dining room and each was assigned a seat.

As everyone sat down, the waiters began to serve the dishes. They immediately rose from a murmur of disgust and anger. The diligent waiters indeed poured into the plates potato skins, stones, bits of moldy bread. Only on the plates of the two elderly people, sitting in a corner, were delicately deposited refined foods and exquisite dishes. Suddenly the maiden with torn robes entered the room. They all shut up. «Today - said the woman - you have found exactly what you offered me yesterday».

She took off her dirty clothes. Underneath, she wore a golden dress. It was the Queen.

A rich man came to heaven. He first walked around the market and was surprised to see that the goods were sold at very low prices. He immediately grabbed his wallet and began to sort out the most beautiful things he saw.

At the time of payment he gave to the angel, who was a salesman, a handful of bills of great value. 

The angel smiled and said, "I’m sorry, but this money has no value".

"How?" surprised the rich man.

"Here only the money that on earth has been donated is worth," answered the angel.

- Mr Bruno Ferrero

From "Cerchi nel Acqua"

The Miracle

 This is the true story of an eight-year-old girl who knew that love can work wonders. Her little brother was destined to die from a brain tumor. Her parents were poor, but they did everything they could to save him, spending all their savings.

One evening, the father said to the mother in tears: "We can't take it anymore, dear. I think it's over. Only a miracle could save him."

The little girl, breathless, had heard in a corner of the room.

She ran to her room, broke the piggy bank, and quietly headed to the nearest pharmacy. She waited patiently for her turn. She approached the counter, stood on tiptoe, and in front of the amazed pharmacist, put all the coins on the counter.

"What is it for? What do you want, little one?"

"It's for my little brother, Mr. Pharmacist. He's very sick and I've come to buy a miracle."

"What are you talking about?" muttered the Pharmacist.

"His name is Andrea, and he has something growing inside his head, and Dad told Mom that it's over, there's nothing more to be done and that it would take a miracle to save him. You see, I love my little brother so much, that's why I took all my money and came to buy a miracle."

The pharmacist smiled sadly.

"My little one, we don't sell miracles here."

"But if this money isn't enough, I can work hard to find more. How much does a miracle cost?"

There was a tall, elegant man in the pharmacy, with a very serious air, who seemed interested in the strange conversation.

The pharmacist spread his arms in shame. The little girl, with tears in her eyes, began to collect her coins. The man approached her.

"Why are you crying, little one? What's wrong with you?"

"The pharmacist doesn't want to sell me a miracle or even tell me how much it costs... It's for my little brother Andrea who is very sick. Mom says he needs an operation, but Dad says it costs too much and we can't afford it and that it would take a miracle to save him. That's why I brought everything I have."

"How much do you have?"

"A dollar and eleven cents…. But, you know…." He added in a thin voice, "I can still find something….".

The man smiled. “Look, I don’t think that’s necessary. One dollar and eleven cents is exactly the price of a miracle for your little brother!” He picked up the small sum with one hand and gently took the little girl’s hand with the other.

"Take me to your house, little one. I want to see your little brother and also your dad and mommy and see with them if we can find the little miracle you need."

The tall, elegant gentleman and the little girl walked out holding hands.

That man was Professor Carlton Armstrong, one of the world's greatest neurosurgeons. He operated on little Andrea, who was able to return home a few weeks later completely healed.

"This operation," murmured the mother, "is a real miracle. I wonder how much it cost…"

The little sister smiled without saying anything. She knew how much the miracle had cost: one dollar and eleven cents…. plus, of course, the love and faith of a little girl.

If you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there, and it will move.' Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).

Don Bruno Ferrero, from the book: There's still someone who dances - Elledici editions