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, sometimes they saw 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...
Then, 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 that they
were speechless. No word was spoken but tears
streamed down their cheeks and 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.
Children are remarkably perceptive.
Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen,
and their minds ever process the messages they absorb.
Remember the saying "Children are like sponges,
they absorb everything and anything that is put
in front of them.
