|
May
have already seen this one, but still pretty good, something
to think about as we get older!
|
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,
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 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,
regardless
of
your
relationship
with
your
parents,
you'll
miss
them
when
they're
gone
from
your
life.
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.
I've
learned
that
you
should
pass
this
on to
everyone
you
care
about
.I
just
did.
FRIENDSHIP
CANDLE
NOTICE
AT THE
END,
THE
DATE
THE
CANDLE
WAS
STARTED.
GONNA
GIVE
YOU
GOOSE
BUMPS.
I
am not
going
to be
the
one
who
lets
it
die. I
found
it
believable
--
angels
have
walked
beside
me all
my
life--and
they
still
do
*********************
This
is to
all of
you
who
mean
something
to me,
I
pray
for
your
happiness.
The
Candle
Of
Love,
Hope
& Friendship
This
candle
was
lit on
the
15th
of
September,
1998
Someone
who
loves
you
has
helped
keep
it
alive
by
sending
it to
you.
Don't
let
The
Candle
of
Love,
Hope
and
Friendship
die
Pass
It On
To
All Of
Your
Friends
and
Everyone
You
Love!
May
God
richly
bless
you!
