The Wooden bowl
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2001 12:51 am
Something sobering from another forum:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year
grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his
step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly
grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas
rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk
spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do
something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled
milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a
small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of
the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his
food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's
direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the
only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a
fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood
scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you
and Mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled
and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were
speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word
was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to
the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the
family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any
longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
People will forget what you say ... people will forget what you do .. but
people will never forget how you made them feel.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
[ Chuckaplano]
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year
grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his
step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly
grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas
rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk
spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do
something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled
milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a
small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of
the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his
food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's
direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the
only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a
fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood
scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you
and Mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled
and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were
speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word
was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to
the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the
family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any
longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
People will forget what you say ... people will forget what you do .. but
people will never forget how you made them feel.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
[ Chuckaplano]