One of these days I was talking to the parents of a child who had an illness which confined him to a wheelchair, becoming completely dependent on his parents.

When we had met the family for the first time, the child still had control of his body; running and playing like any other child.

One unexpected day, the doctors gave the sad news to his parents: the worse was inevitable.

However, what calls our attention is the way the family faces their situation.

The younger brother gives him all attention and affection possible. The older sister gives him constant love.

The mother is the central axle who gives the balanced tune and discipline. She is like a flower that spreads tender perfume in notes of affection and firmness.

The father is the security, the good friend, the pal who watches football and cheers with him, even if to opposing teams.

The youngster has difficulties with pronunciation, but has also an incredible sense of humour.

He does not miss the chance of commenting, in a mocking way, his father’s small slips.

When the father forgets him in the bathroom for a long while, he says he is already used to it, and keeps a magazine or a book of his preference next to the toilet, for such occasions.

“You are not the father I want, but you are the father I need”, he says sometimes, with a smile.

One day, a neighbour asked the mother: “Are you the woman who has a problem child?”

The mother quickly replied: “No, I do not have a problem child.”

One day, talking about this episode, the mother commented:

“I do not see our kid as a problem child. He is an important part of the happiness of our home. He teaches us so much. He is a valuable treasure whom the Creator lent us.

I believe a problem child to be one who incites sorrow and tears…The violent criminal, the one who digs in his parents the dagger of distress, of ungratefulness.

Problem child is the lavisher, explorer of his parents, corrupted and corruptor, insensible and irresponsible.

Therefore mine is not a problem child, even if having serious physical limitations.”

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There is no doubt she is right.

There are fathers and mothers who carry the heavy cross of having a problem child. While she takes care of her treasure immobilized on a wheelchair with devotion and tenderness, that mother thinks about the other mothers who die a little every night, while waiting for their indifferent children.

To give comfort to her young son, to wash and feed him, to renounce her profession to dedicate herself entirely to him; these are no reasons for sorrow or pain to that sweet mother.

However, there are other mothers who get bitter with their problem child, the ones who have no physical limitation, but have stone hearts.

For all that, it is important to consider what exactly a problem child is.

We should be sure that physical limitations are not necessarily the difficulties that parents have to face, as physical health is not happiness’ assurance.

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Every child is a sacred loan that the Creator concedes to parents so that they will be perfected with the chisel of love.

Almost always a rebel child is somebody who needs tenderness and firmness to find the path to God again.

Therefore, it does not matter how much effort and sacrifice it might request, the best investment parents can make is to give these jewels back to the Creator with more brightness in their souls.

Text written by Spiritist Moment Team. Translated by Huei Lin Allegretti.