As we get older, it’s perfectly normal for our bodies to age as well and not function quite as they had in the past. There’s little we can do about these changes – it’s the course of life, and the way of nature. When encountering people going through such changes, it’s important to remember that they are not at fault and to remain more compassionate and kind toward them. If we’re lucky enough to live that long, we will all be in the same situation one day. This story exemplifies just that. Except while the adults in this story seem to have forgotten the above mentioned facts, a 4-year-old boy seems to understand them very well. Read on and you’ll understand what I mean.
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 on-line slots 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.
Share this important story with both young and old!
Published by Newsner, please like.
