The Wooden Bowl

 

The following is a favorite story of mine. I share this with you today, because this a time of year when many of us will have guests over for meals. My hope is that this story helps you to remember that the reason we open our homes to friends and family is to share our love and abundance.  May you enjoy and accept everyone who crosses the threshold of your home and may they never feel unwanted or sorry for crumbs left on the floor or spilled drinks, etc. May your home be filled with laughter, peace and love, may all who come into your home feel welcome and look forward to sharing the warmth of your home in the future.

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 and 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 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 had 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 curiously, “What are you making?” 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! 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, when milk was spilled, or when the tablecloth was soiled.

• - Author Unknown

May you cherish all who are in your life, even those who challenge are patience.

We cannot choose our family members as we do our friends, however we can choose how we act when we are with them. May you always act from love and kindness?

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