01 The Difference in Life
/01 The Difference in Life
*Maria was a family-oriented girl and had a beloved dog named *Poporin at home.
/*Maria was a family-oriented girl and had a beloved dog named *Poporin at home.
*Poporin was a member of the family and an important friend who played happily with *Maria every day.
/*Poporin was a member of the family and an important friend who played happily with *Maria every day.
One day, there was a class at school where they learned about life.
/One day, there was a class at school where they learned about life.
The teacher said, “We live by receiving the lives of animals. Each life has meaning and must be cherished.”
/The teacher said, “We live by receiving the lives of animals. Each life has meaning and must be cherished.”
That night, *Maria looked at the pork on her dinner plate and thought.
/That night, *Maria looked at the pork on her dinner plate and thought.
“*Poporin is so cute and important to me, but pigs are turned into food. Is a pig’s life different from *Poporin’s?”
/“*Poporin is so cute and important to me, but pigs are turned into food. Is a pig’s life different from *Poporin’s?”
*Maria asked her mother, “*Poporin’s life is very important, but isn’t a pig’s life important too?”
/*Maria asked her mother, “*Poporin’s life is very important, but isn’t a pig’s life important too?”
Her mother replied, “*Maria, both *Poporin and pigs are living beings, so their lives are important.
/Her mother replied, “*Maria, both *Poporin and pigs are living beings, so their lives are important.
“We gain strength to live by receiving the lives of pigs. That’s why it’s very important to be thankful when we receive life.”
/“We gain strength to live by receiving the lives of pigs. That’s why it’s very important to be thankful when we receive life.”
The next day, *Maria wanted to learn more about pigs’ lives and decided to talk to a man who raises pigs on a farm.
/The next day, *Maria wanted to learn more about pigs’ lives and decided to talk to a man who raises pigs on a farm.
The man said, “Pigs are raised to become food for humans, but their lives are never treated carelessly.
/The man said, “Pigs are raised to become food for humans, but their lives are never treated carelessly.
“We raise them with care and receive their lives with gratitude.”
/“We raise them with care and receive their lives with gratitude.”
*Maria saw how the pigs were being cared for on the farm and thought, “Pigs are alive too, and there are people who take care of them.”
/*Maria saw how the pigs were being cared for on the farm and thought, “Pigs are alive too, and there are people who take care of them.”
On the way home, *Maria said to her mother, “*Poporin and pigs both have meaning in their lives.
/On the way home, *Maria said to her mother, “*Poporin and pigs both have meaning in their lives.
From now on, I want to remember that I’m receiving life when I eat.”
/From now on, I want to remember that I’m receiving life when I eat.”
Her mother nodded gently and said, “Having that feeling is important.
/Her mother nodded gently and said, “Having that feeling is important.
“Being thankful for receiving life and not wasting it is something important we can do.”
/“Being thankful for receiving life and not wasting it is something important we can do.”
That night, when *Maria ate dinner, she whispered “Thank you” in her heart.
/That night, when *Maria ate dinner, she whispered “Thank you” in her heart.
*Maria learned the meaning of receiving life and decided to never forget that feeling.
/*Maria learned the meaning of receiving life and decided to never forget that feeling.
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
How were the pigs *Maria saw on the farm raised?
/How were the pigs *Maria saw on the farm raised?
a. They were cared for with love
/a. They were cared for with love
b. They were left alone
/b. They were left alone
c. They were crying
/c. They were crying
What did *Maria whisper in her heart when she ate dinner?
/What did *Maria whisper in her heart when she ate dinner?
a. “Thank you”
/a. “Thank you”
b. “I want more”
/b. “I want more”
c. “I want to play”
/c. “I want to play”
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
How do you think *Maria felt when she learned the meaning of receiving life?
/How do you think *Maria felt when she learned the meaning of receiving life?
Also, how do you feel about receiving life?
/Also, how do you feel about receiving life?
How do you think you can feel thankful for the lives of the food you eat?
/How do you think you can feel thankful for the lives of the food you eat?
Let’s talk about it together.
/Let’s talk about it together.
