The Child Who Shared the Umbrella
It was raining heavily when school ended. Most children ran to their cars or buses, but little Joseph stood waiting with a small umbrella. Near the gate, he saw a classmate he hardly knew standing alone without one.
The umbrella was too small even for one person to stay fully dry. Joseph hesitated. If he shared it, both would get wet.
Then he remembered what his catechism teacher had said: "Love is not always comfortable." So he walked over and said, "Come, we'll both fit somehow."
Reflection
They walked home awkwardly, shoulders wet, shoes splashing through puddles, laughing at how little the umbrella actually helped. But by the time they reached the corner, Joseph understood something simple and beautiful: sometimes what matters is not how much we can give, but whether we are willing to move closer to someone else's need.