The Wooden Bowl

[Em]

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 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 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.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens,

how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

 

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:

a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

 

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents,

you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

 

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

 

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance

 

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.

You need to be able to throw something back

 

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you

But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others,

your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you

 

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

 

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

 

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

 

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

 

[Em]

Does anyone remember this story from their Armenian school textbooks? I do. It truly is a lesson in life.... : )

 

By the way, I did not write the latter part either.

Edited February 9, 2008 by Em124

[MosJan]

isk inchu yes chem hishum ??

[Ashot]

Chishtn asats yesel chem hishum!!!

[AVO]

vorovhete menq dasi jamanak mtatsum eyinq te inchpes aghchikneri mazer@ kashenq. Kam usmasvari office@ traqtsnenq

[Ashot]

Here is the future of the WOODEN BOWL story!!!

 

http://www.thatpoliticalblog.com/serendipity/uploads/images/wood_computer1.jpg

http://www.thatpoliticalblog.com/serendipity/uploads/images/wood_computer6.jpg

http://www.thatpoliticalblog.com/serendipity/uploads/images/wood_computer9.jpg

http://www.thatpoliticalblog.com/serendipity/uploads/images/wood_computer13.jpg

http://www.thatpoliticalblog.com/serendipity/uploads/images/wood_computer16.jpg

Edited February 10, 2008 by Ashot

[SirunTgha]

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 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 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.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens,

how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

 

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:

a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

 

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents,

you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

 

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

 

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance

 

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.

You need to be able to throw something back

 

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you

But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others,

your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you

 

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

 

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

 

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

 

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

 

It's seriously deep, I can't finish reading it, gets very heavy on me. But good stuff!!

[vava]

Thanks Em - very inspirational. My grandparents lived with us when I was a child, and every meal we'd eat together as a family.

As they got older, and though my metzmama's dementia made things extremely difficult, the family meals remained a vital part of our lives. Until one day, they were no longer with us. I will always remember the life lessons I learned from my parents throughout those years, loyalty, respect, patience, and love. Truly inspiring - thanks again Em...

 

 

[Em]

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year

old son waiting for him at the door.

 

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'

DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.

SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the

man said angrily.

SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an

hour?'

DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

 

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you

can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then

you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why

you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish

frivolities.' The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

 

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's

questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After

about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think:

Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and

he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of

the little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' He

asked. 'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking,

maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long

day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you

asked for.'

 

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!'

He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled

up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get

angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then

looked up at his father. 'Why do you want more money if you already

have some?' the father grumbled.! Because I didn't have enough, but now

I do,' the little boy replied. 'Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an

hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to

have dinner with you.'

 

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he

begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you

working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our

fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to

us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of

your time with someone you love.