Extract A: from The Angel
Once upon a time, there was a child ready to be born. One day the child asked God, “They tell me you
are going to send me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”
God replied, “Among the many angels I have chosen one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take
care of you.”
Said child, “But tell me here in Heaven I don’t do anything else but sing and smile. That’s what I need to
be happy!” God replied, “Your angel will sing for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be
happy.”
And, said the child, “How am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the
language that men talk?” “That’s easy”, God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet
words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.” The
child looked up at God saying, “And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?” God smiled at the
child saying, “Your angel will teach you how to pray.”
The child said, “I’ve heard on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?” God replied, “Your angel will
defend you, even if it means risking life!” The child looked sad, saying, “But I will always be sad because I
will not see you anymore.” God replied, “Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you
the way to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.”
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard. The
child in a hurry, asked softly, “Oh God, if I am about to leave now please tell me my angel’s name!” God
replied, Your angel’s name is of no importance. You will simply call her … MOTHER!
Extract B: from Paid in Full
A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he handed
her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it,
and this is what it said:
For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75
Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her
mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he had written on, and this is what she wrote:
For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No Charge.
For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No Charge.
For all the trying times, and all the tears that you’ve caused through the years: No Charge.
For all the nights filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: No Charge.
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: No Charge.
When you add it up, the cost of my love is: No Charge.
When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he
looked straight up at his mother and said, “Mom, I sure do love you.”
And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote:
“PAID IN FULL.”