Re: The wooden bowl

Story Time

The wooden bowl

socalgold 04-21-2007, 11:40 AM
I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden
Bowl tomorrow, a week from now,a month from now, a year from now. A
frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year
old 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 father," 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,
sometime 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 in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and
went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so 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.
____________________________________
Do you really think your kids don't notice the little things?
Lee

I Love My Country
It's the government I'm Afraid OF