topic Re: This is quite touching in Community Chat

This is quite touching

CherryHugs — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 21:37:27 GMT

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. 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.

*********************

Re: This is quite touching

luvdoodles — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 21:57:34 GMT

This really touched my heart and brought back memories of feeding my father who had Alzheimers. He loved to eat but could not feed himself. It took him a long time to finish a dinner because of Parkinsons too. I would reheat it several times to make sure he had a hot meal. I miss him so much.

Re: This is quite touching

DeLaney — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 22:44:21 GMT

Love it! TY, OP.

Re: This is quite touching

meglet — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 22:45:05 GMT

Thanks so much for posting this. I'm a caretaker for my parents and work full time. It is not always rainbows and fairies in this house, but I can try to do better. I'm still gonna be heck on those non working Christmas lights though. Enough to make me want to hurl the tree out the window!

Re: This is quite touching

Goldengate8361 — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 22:46:57 GMT

That's a sad little story........I can't imagine anybody really being that cruel.

Re: This is quite touching

CherryHugs — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 23:43:39 GMT

This touches me too because I take care of things for my dad since my mom has passed away 4 years ago. He would be in a nursing home if it not for my help. He is a senior citizen and so many times he drops food when he eats, forgets things, repeats himself, doesn't leave the house except to go to appointments, almost all of his friends have died, he cant do cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry etc. Thankfully he can do his personal care and can get around the house with a walker. When I read this posting shared in a yahoo group it made me cry and also made me realize that I need to be more patient and tolerant and loving and kind. He is doing the best he can and he didn't ask to be old and frail. I miss my Mom so very much and I am so very thankful that my Dad is here still!!! Sometimes it is hard to act nice and be patient and at times have gotten quite mad or upset over things he does or doesn't do. So I think I will print this out for a reminder!

Re: This is quite touching

CherryHugs — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 23:46:23 GMT

I hear you about the Christmas lights!!! That does a number on my patience lol. That is why I love the pre lit tree

Re: This is quite touching

meglet — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 02:03:29 GMT

CherryHugs - I even have trouble with my prelit tree!

Re: This is quite touching

CherryHugs — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 16:15:36 GMT

I didn't care for the story part either Hildegarde and I don't even know it that is true. The touching part to me was what the little boy said and how the parents realized how terrible they were being.

Oh noo Meglet lol. A prelit tree has been terrific for me and easy no troubles with it

Re: This is quite touching

circles — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 21:25:39 GMT

very touching....brought tears to my eyes....

Re: This is quite touching

colliemom4 — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 05:25:00 GMT

I thought it was a good story. Sometimes you need a story like that to get the message across. Great message and very true.

Re: This is quite touching

NChgOfMyAttitude — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 15:59:26 GMT

Wow. A message for all of us to learn from. Thanks for posting this. Made me think of my grandmother who I miss terribly.

Re: This is quite touching

Giordan — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:27:57 GMT

I just hope the elderly man leaves his son and DIL squat and every thing else to his amazing grandson.

Re: This is quite touching

chrystaltree — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:00:07 GMT

Someone probably wasted an entire day of their lives writing that.

Re: This is quite touching

adoreqvc — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:20:59 GMT

Out of the mouths of babes always rings true.

It is a shame it took a young child to open they eyes of his parents as to how cruel they were behaving toward his grandfather, whom the child evidently loved very much.

Better late than never.........and yes time is short on Earth, so we must all be kind to one another and make their time when they become somewhat incapacitated as pleasant and loving as possible, so that they have reasons to want to live and not just give up.

Before I began traveling abroad I used to volunteer at hospitals and nursing homes and help with hospice. Many elderly had no one at all left in this world, while others had children who never called, never came and more or less had vanished and dumped their parent into the hospital.

I feel graced to be able to offer words of comfort, reading from the Bible, talking about religion and eternal life if asked.

Hugging them, petting their cheek, telling them I cared, and many times I was so blessed to have shared their last few minutes on earth before they passed from earthly life thru that invisible door all mortals pass through.

I can only say yes I cried a lot after I lost a friend, because they come to expect to see oyu on various days and many times oyu are the only person who visits them and offers words of comfort.

Life is so short on earth so I find it inexcusable when I see someone being harsh or cruel to the elderly who have no fault or choice of their own, and must depend on others to help with needs they can no longer perform.

I always remind myself be kind to others because that is what is expected of us, since we would pray for the same kind of kindness when we become really elderly and need help from others.

Thank you OP for posting this story.....It did make me cry because I recall so many of my immediate family who died, relatives who died and friends, and those wonderful people waiting to pass on in Hospice....having them all in my life has enriched my soul, and that will always remain in my heart.