Christian Library | Full Free Coptic Books | Orthodox Library

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth), book by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

558- The Eldest Sister

 

St-Takla.org Image: Kids, brothers and sisters - boys and girls - Published with permission of the children's parents (Natalia Nader - Verina Nasser - Philopatir Nasser - Fabio Nasser - Nayer Nader), and the children themselves - Photograph by Michael Ghaly for St-Takla.org, July 2008. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أطفال، أخوة و أخوات - أولاد وبنات - منشورة بإذن أسر الأطفال (نتاليا نادر - فيرينا ناصر - فيلوباتير ناصر - فابيو ناصر - ناير نادر) أصحاب الصورة والأطفال أنفسهم - تصوير مايكل غالي لـ: موقع الأنبا تكلا هيمانوت، يوليو 2008.

Young Mary felt lonely and isolated since her elder sister was ten years older than her; she was always busy studying. She would not allow Mary to play with her for the sake of studying. At the same time, her parents were busy working. Once Mary bought a beautiful present for her mother. Mary wanted to draw something on the present box. She brought the colored pens and began to draw with the brush a flower to express her love to her mother. However, the brush moved and the features of the flower were lost. As the elder sister noticed this, she kindly took the brush and made the features of the flower very clear. Mary admired the flower; thus, she kissed her sister saying, "I'm very pleased for having an elder sister to help me thus."

Since then, Mary began to learn from her sister's experience no longer grieving for being much younger than her.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: الأخت الكبرى.

Let me always rejoice with what You give me.

Let me be happy with my family’s circumstances.

You, Lord, give me what edifies me.

Grant me somebody to share with me my life,

And somebody to learn from.

---