Read The Good For Nothing Boy :: Jewels

One morning, after crying all night for Ben, a strong yet gentle voice tried to awaken the little boy. "Wake up, my son, wake up."

Slowly, as though he was still dreaming, the boy opened his eyes and saw a bright light upon the clouds.

"Look upon the lake, my son," the voice asked him.

When he looked back to where he was, he saw a clear lake in front of him. Gone were the sand and the desert, and he was now upon a serene and lovely place. He looked at the lake as he was told and saw a young man looking back at him.

"What do you see?" asked the voice.

"I see...I see a young man with a crown...He looks strong and wise yet his eyes are sad...I don’t know if I could look into them for long..."

"Ah, do you like what you see?"

"I don't know. He seems to be everything I've always wanted to be, but I can't bear to see his eyes," the boy replied.

"That man is you, David, my long lost son.”

“David? Why did you call me with that name? Why did you call me as your son?”

“Because that is your name, and I am your Father.”

“That...that is my name? And you are…my Father?”

“Yes, David. Indeed, you are my son. You are also that man that you saw at the lake, for after all that you have gone through, deep inside, you have become a real man: strong, wise and everything I wanted you to be. Everything that you were meant to be you have now become! And I'm so proud of you."

“But...but I’ve done nothing. I’m good for nothing. If you only knew...maybe you won’t be so proud to be my Father...maybe you’d leave me also, like my Mother.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, my son. Your heart is sad because you have not seen your life as I have. Now I want you to see yourself as I see you; I want you to see as I see...”

For a moment, a very bright light blinded the boy, and when he opened his eyes he was surprised to see all those he met in his journey.

"I would like you to see again all those whose lives you have touched," the voice spoke. "This is your moment!"

"Thank you, little boy," the big man said. "You've made me realize that it isn't enough that we do things, especially if all we could ever do is destroy. I have learned to use my strength in building things. I have made many homes instead of destroying them."

"Same here, boy," said the other man. "Had you not inspired me, I would not have learned it isn't enough to eat. When I learned to share my food with others, the hole in my stomach slowly vanished. I no longer feel as though I need to eat all day and night."

"Yes, you're a real blessing to us all," said the elephant. "Through your simplicity and innocence, I have learned to let go of my hurts. I have learned the importance of forgiveness. Now the sun is shining every day in my land!"

"And every day," the lovely maiden said, "everyday, I sing with my friends. Now I'm no longer scared to be different, rather, I'm glad to be unique and special."

"Yes, unique, special and free!" cried the butterfly.

And they all gathered around the boy who could not believe everything he heard and saw. Just yesterday he was lost; yesterday he was just a little boy whom nobody needed. But today, today he felt like a hero. Today he knew his name, he knew his father, and he felt like a man! If only...

"My son, are you happy with what you see?" the voice asked and interrupted his thoughts. But before he could answer, darkness fell and it became like a starless and moonless night. The boy would have been scared for this sudden change had he not seen a faint little light approaching. Slowly, the light became brighter and brighter...and then the light flickered and danced about. It moved in spirals and circles and left behind trails of flickering light like fireworks in the sky. Then it started to move about writing a message across the sky. It wrote the following letters: F-R-I-E-N-D... FRIEND! And the boy realized who and what it was: it was the firefly and he's fully awake and alive.

"Thank you, my friend. Thank you for loving me that much that you would even offer your own life for me. I didn’t know anyone would ever do it for me, a firefly."

"You're not just a firefly, Ben. You're my friend!” Suddenly, the boy felt warm arms embracing him, loving him as nobody has ever done before. He felt so safe and loved. He felt he belonged...he felt whole.

"My son, David, I love you just as you are. You don’t need to be anyone else. You are precious since the day you were born, even since the day you were in your mother’s womb. You don’t have to do anything to prove your worth."

With this, the boy could not help but cry, and this time, not with tears of sadness but with tears of joy. "Thank you, Father," was all that he could whisper.

“My son, from now on you will always be where you’ve always wanted to be–home!"

WHEN YOU BURN

Do not worry my son,

if you do not glitter like the stars,

if you do not shine like the sun,

if you do not move like an eagle,

If you do not roar like a lion,

if you do not sing like a lark,

if you do not grow like a tree,

if you do not spark like a fire.

For the sun cannot shine like you shine

nor the stars glitter as you do