THE WOODEN BOWL -- Author Unknown -- 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 very difficult for him. Peas rolled off his fork onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law soon became very irritated with the mess. "We must do something about grandfather." said his son. "I've really had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and all that 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 that 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 wooden bowl for you and Mama to eat your food when I grow up and you grow old." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck his 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 very 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 his family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork dropped, a plate was broken, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. God, let us ever be proud of what they see, hear, and absorb. Amen
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