THE TALE OF THE WOODEN BOWL

One month down and 11 more to go. And you ask "How many days until Christmas?" Time is flying.

I ran across this story in "Wealth to Last" by Ron Blue and Larry Burkett. Thought I would share it.

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 BLURRED, AND HIS STEP FALTERED. DURING THE NIGHTLY FAMILY DINNER TOGETHER, THE ELDERLY GRANDFATHER'S SHAKY HANDS AND FAILING SIGHT MADE EATING DIFFICULT. PEAS ROLLED OFF HIS SPOON ONTO THE FLOOR. WHEN HE TRIED TO GRASP THE GLASS, MILK SPILLED ON THE TABLECLOTH.

THE SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW BECAME IRRITATED WITH THE REGULAR MESSES. "WE MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT GRANDFATHER", SAID THE SON. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF HIS SPILLED MILK, NOISY EATING, AND FOOD ON THE FLOOR."

THE HUSBAND AND WIFE DECIDED TO SET A SMALL TABLE IN THE CORNER. THERE, GRANDFATHER ATE ALONE WHILE THE REST OF THE FAMILY ENJOYED DINNER AT THE TABLE. 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 EYES 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 LITTLE BOY 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 WORDS WERE 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 HAD EVERY MEAL WITH THE FAMILY. FOR SOME REASON, NEITHER HUSBAND NOR WIFE SEEMED TO CARE ANY LONGER WHEN A FORK WAS DROPPED, MILK WAS SPILLED, OR THE TABLECLOTH WAS SOILED.

Tissue please!