Tale of oral tradition collected by Ruth Salles
Once, on a day when Saint Peter came to earth to see how men were doing, he met a poor man and a rich man who complained bitterly about life. The poor complained about what they didn't have, and the rich about what they still wanted to have.
Saint Peter said to them:
– Do not mourn like that, my children! Bitter complaints darken all the sweetness of the hearts around them. Give your pain to God, and try to dye the hearts that surround you with the colors of acceptance, contentment, hope, simple joy, generosity, which are clear and beautiful colors. When your time here on earth is over, you will see what a beautiful work you have built with these thoughts of love.
The poor man listened to what Saint Peter said and faithfully followed his advice. The rich man, however, too restless for everything he dreamed of possessing, had neither the time nor the will to think about what was going on around him, and so he lived from complaint to complaint.
At the end of his time here on earth, the two met in heaven, and the rich man asked the poor man where he was living. The poor man pointed out to him a beautiful mansion on top of a hill.
- But how? - complained the rich man. - So you live there so comfortably, and I, rich and important that I was, live cramped in a cubicle in that grotto?
And so saying, he went to complain to Saint Peter. The saint listened patiently and replied: - Ah, my son, every day of his life the poor man sent me a little brick here to heaven, just with his generous attitude, while from you I only received what he gave. to build this cubicle in the grotto.
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