The Wooden bowl
A story that has been told time and time again, but always worth reading….
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.”
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone whilst the rest of the family enjoyed dinner together.
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?”
The boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food 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, and even 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.
So, what are the takeaways from this story for us?
Regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.
Making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.”
Life sometimes gives you a second chance.
If you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family and your friends, happiness will find you.
People will forget what you said … people will forget what you did…but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Tags: happiness will find you, making a life, making a living, relationship with your parents, The family, The wooden bowl
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