THE WOODEN BOWL

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. Buy 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, 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 in when I grow up. '

The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words 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.

On a positive note,

I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: A rainy day,the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a
'life.'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I
usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a
friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

     This was an e-mail that I received today and I so enjoyed it that I wanted to add it to my blog. I am getting to a point in my life where I have to have a few things done for me that I can't do any more. Can't bend over and pick up things out of the floor. Hold on to the doors and walls when I walk through the house. My hearing is going and I have had eye surgery on my right eye and in the near future, will have it done on the left eye. In the mean time I take care about what I do and don't go outside without my cane. I have fallen to many times to go without it.
      The golden rule that I learned a long time ago"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This was on a banner in my school room just about everyday of my life. The bible say to honor thy father and thy mother that their days may be long on the land. Many people in this day and age forget who took care of them when they were growing up. Even animals take care of their young until they are able to fend for themselves.
     Don't forget the elderly. An old saying but it is so true. "There but for the grace of GOD go I." My former husband has always been an independent person and took care of himself. In the last couple of months, he health has deteriorated and he can't even walk. No one knows what the future holds for us. We may be in the same shoes as the man with the wooden bowl. My dad and step-mom were well taken care until the day they died. No one grumbled or complained about the spills they made or changing the bed linens. You say well that is embarrassing, but GOD provided the means for us to be able to fetch and carry for them until the end. There are no regrets. We miss them and would love to talk to them again but I know they are together again and watching over us and waiting for us to arrive and introduce us to the rest of the family that has gone on before us.