Re: Fw: The Wooden Bowl Some real important things to remember!!!!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/20/02 10:07:39 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

djarthur@... writes:

<<

> > >> > > THE WOODEN BOWL

> > >> > >

> > >> > > 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 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,

sometime

> > >>he

> > >>had

> > >> > a

> > >> > > tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the

couple

> > >>had

> > >>for

> > >> > > him were sharp admonitions whenever 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 some 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

> > >> > > 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 tablecloth soiled.

> > >> > >

> > >> > > On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens or

> 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

> > >>three

> > >> > > things: a rainy day, 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.

> > >> > >

> > >> > > 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.

> > >> > >

> > >> > > Sometimes they just need a little something to make them smile.

> > >>People

> > >> > will

> > >> > > forget what you said ... people will forget what you did .. but

> > >>people

> > >> > will

> > >> > > never forget how you made them feel.

> > >> > >

> > >> > > >>