In a rocky mountain, through a desert region, two old and ill friends were walking along a path. Trying to defend themselves against the cold wind as best as they could, they suddenly ran into a semi dead child lying on the road, at the mercy of the wintry winds.

        One of them starred at the remarkable finding and exasperatedly shouted:

        I’ll not waste my time. At this time, I have to look after myself. Let’s move forward.

        The other one, who was more merciful, objected:

        My friend, let’s save the little one. He’s our brother in mankind.

        I can’t, said his companion, his voice hardened, I feel tired and ill.

        This stranger would be an unbearable burden. It’s cold and there’s a storm coming. We need to reach the nearest village without wasting any more time.

        And he left in large strides.

        The kindhearted traveler, however, bent over the little boy, took a few minutes holding him close to his chest and, while nestling him a little closer, slowly went on his way.

        The cold rain fell ceaselessly all through the night and the merciful traveler, sheltering his valuable bundle, only reached the village’s lodge after a long time.

        To his surprise, however, he did not find his friend, who had left earlier, there.

        Only on the following day, after long and thorough searching, was the unlucky traveler found, lifeless, in a ditch along the flooded path.

        Having walked alone and in a hurry, with the selfish idea of self-preservation, he could not resist the cold snap that had gotten worse and fell, soaked, with no resources to struggle against the freezing cold.

        Meanwhile, his companion had received the comforting heat from the child he was holding close to his own heart, and therefore could surpass the obstacles of the chilly night, saving himself from suffering a similar tragedy.

        He had discovered the sublimity of mutual help… By helping the abandoned child, he had helped himself.

        By sacrificing himself so as to be useful to another person, he had managed to triumph over life troubles, attaining the blessings of reciprocal salvation.

* * *

        The most eloquent and precise witnesses of a man, before the Supreme Father, are his own works.

        Those whom we help constitute our own future support.

        The heart we help will become, sooner or later, a resource in our favor. Let nobody doubt it.

        A lonely man is simply solitude living ornament, but he who cooperates to benefit his neighbor is a creditor of mutual help.

        By helping others, we will be helped. By giving, we will receive: that is God’s Law.

Spiritist  Moment Team, based on the book Jesus no lar, chapter O auxílio mútuo,  by the Spirit Neio Lúcio, psychographed by  Francisco Cândido Xavier. Publishing house: Feb.
February 07 2008.