When most of us think about children, we don’t really give them the credit they deserve. We may think that they are just too young to have any real input that is going to benefit us in life. Although it may be true that we acquire wisdom as we get older, there is also some wisdom that is built into a child and it works well with their innocence. If we listen to what children have to say, we might be surprised what just how perceptive they can be. That is what happened in this fictional story about a young couple that was caring for their aged father. When their son is seen doing something unusual, it shows them just how cruel they have been.
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old mans hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table.
But the elderly grandfathers shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often 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. “Ive 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 at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfathers direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate 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 from 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 grandfathers 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.
Take care of yourself and those you love, today, and everyday!
