Pinkoo
25-07-2005, 12:47 PM
^^
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 Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his
spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." Therefore, 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 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
table cloth soiled.
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 Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his
spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." Therefore, 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 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
table cloth soiled.