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| I see my little Jesus appear as sweet as a ray of sun on a rainy day. He is a little child about five years old, completely blond and most beautiful in His simple blue dress which reaches down to half His well-shaped calves. He is playing with some earth in the little kitchen garden. He makes little heaps with it and on top He plants little branches as if He were making a miniature forest, with little stones He builds little roads and then He would like to build a little lake at the foot of His tiny hills. He therefor takes the bottom part of an old pot and inters it up to the brim and then fills it with water with a pitcher which He dips into a vessel, which is certainly used either for washing purposes or to water the little garden. But the only result is that He wets His dress, particularly its sleeves. The water runs out of the chipped pot which is probably also cracked and... the lake dries up. Joseph appears at the door and for some time he stands, very quietly watching the work of the Child and smiles. It is a sight, indeed, that makes one smile happily. Then, to prevent Jesus from getting more wet. he calls Him. Jesus turns round smiling, and when He sees Joseph, He runs towards him with His little arms stretched out. Joseph with the edge of his short working tunic dries the little hands which are soiled and wet, and kisses them. And then there is a sweet conversation between the two. Jesus explains His work and His game and the difficulties He met in it. He wanted to make a little lake like the lake of Gennesaret. (I therefor suppose that they have either spoken to Him about it of they had taken Him to see it.) He wanted to make a little one for His own delight. This was Tiberias, there was Magdala, over there was Capernaum. This was the road that took to Nazareth going through Cana. He wanted to launch some little boats in the lake; these leaves are boats, and He wanted to go over to the other shore. But the water runs away... Joseph watches and takes an interest as if it were a very serious matter. He then proposes to make a small lake, the following day, but not with an old cracked pot, but with a small wooden basin, well coated with pitch and stucco, in which Jesus would be able to launch small real wooden boats which Joseph would teach Him how to make. Just then, he was bringing Him some small working tools, suitable for Him, that He might learn to use them, without any fatigue. "So I will be able to help you!" Jesus says, smiling. "So you will help me, and You will become a clever carpenter. Come and see them." And they go into the workshop. Joseph shows Him a small hammer, a tiny saw, some very small screwdrivers* (chisels?), a plane suitable for a doll, which are all lying on the bench of a budding carpenter: a bench suitable for little Jesus' size. "See, to saw, You must put this piece of wood like that. You then take the saw like that, and making sure that You do not catch your fingers, You start sawing. Try..." And the lesson begins. And Jesus, blushing with the effort and pressing His lips together, saws the piece of wood carefully and then planes it, and although it is not perfectly straight, He thinks it is nice. Joseph praises Him and with patience and love teaches Him how to work. Mary comes back. She had certainly gone out, and She looks in at the door. Joseph and Jesus do not see Her because She is behind them. Mother smiles seeing how zealously Jesus is working with the plane and how loving Joseph is in teaching Him. But Jesus must have perceived Her smile. He turns round, sees His Mother and runs towards Her, showing Her the little piece of wood not yet finished. Mary admires it, and She bends down to kiss Jesus. She tidies up His ruffled curls, wipes the perspiration on His hot face, and listens with loving attention to Jesus, Who promises to make Her a little stool so that She will be more comfortable when working. Joseph standing near the tiny bench, with one hand resting on his side, looks and smiles. I have thus been present at the first work lesson of my Jesus. And all the peace of this Holy Family is within me. Maria Valtorta |