A very touching story please read....

United States
August 23, 2007 11:38am CST
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, sometime 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. Here is my thought...What a sad story actually, I even almost was in tears to know they would do such a thing to their own loved one.. I find it rather disturbing... It's amazing though how a child sees alot more than what adults see.. I think if i was that child i would have done the same thing.. To see how they would feel to be put in a conner with no one around cause he was old and couldn't handle things right... What are your thoughts on this story?
4 people like this
14 responses
• India
23 Aug 07
you are right my dear, you are right. a lot of things happen in this world, wish it was akinder world and wish people knew more about feelings. pray, pray, pray for everyone. apple.
2 people like this
• United States
23 Aug 07
I can't agree more.. To much happens in this world and sometimes people think it's ok.. This story to me proves a point the child sees the mom and dad do this so she is going to do the same to them when they get older.. Now thinking on that.. A child picks up more than an adult.. I wonder how the parents would feel if this did happen to them I'm sure the same as the old man.. Hurt and alone...
1 person likes this
• India
23 Aug 07
very hurt, very lonely but always blessing.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Aug 07
Honestly, i wish i didn't read that. It really broke my heart. i know that this particular story was just a story and wasn't real, but things like that happen to the elderly all the time and it sickens me. i love the elderly so much and i see how they are so often times mistreated. It literally breaks my heart.
• United States
24 Aug 07
I am really sorry I didn't mean to do that.. Now I feel awful I really do... But you know what when I read this for the first time.. It really sadden me to where I was almost in tears... I do love the elderly they are people just like us and deserve to be treated like people..Not like that..
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Aug 07
Aww that's so sweet actually, but yet sad at the same time too.. I mean how can a grandparent not want to treat their own flesh and blood with tender love and care.. Though some do that.. And i really don't know why that is.. Now i do understand why you felt that way after reading that.. I know i would too after going threw the things you have... Thank you so much for your reply!
1 person likes this
@healwell (1268)
• Ahmedabad, India
24 Aug 07
I have read this story and I know that this one story has done so many things in so many people's life: THey really started to eat with their old dad and moms! At the same time i felt that a small story could do miracle than a well written book on HOW TO BEHAVE WITH OLD PARENTS!
• United States
24 Aug 07
I hope it has... I'm sure it opened alot of peoples eyes to realize what's we really have and how we treat people.. This isn't the way to do it.. Have respect for older people is a must, rather people like it or not.. They also have to remember that these people are the ones who taken care of us..
1 person likes this
• Denmark
23 Aug 07
You are so right Wis, it is a rather touching story and so sad too. I cannot believe that the son could do this to his father. If you say yes to have your parents living with you in your family, you say yes to be looking after and care for them. If you cannot do this then DONT take them home. Now there could be an even more sad story behind this. Why did the son say yes to have his father move in with him and his family? Was it of financial reassons? Was it coz he had enough means to payu for a place at the old folks home, but was to tight to choose this option? Actually having worked in old folks home for a couple of years, it is my biggest fear in life, to get old, frail and incapable to look after myself. Worse people than the ones in this story is around there.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Aug 07
Good questions it also made me wonder why too.. I just didn't understand because the man was old and of course he wasn't able to handle things right how they treat him like that.. So hurtful actually... I would NEVER do this to a love one no matter how many dishes they broke or how many glasses of milk was spilled.. Money can replace but you can't replace the love for someone..
2 people like this
• Denmark
23 Aug 07
Hear, hear, hear
1 person likes this
@dreamy1 (3811)
• United States
24 Aug 07
That is sad. Before I got to the end I was thinking the grandfather would say something to his son along the lines of; when you were a baby I took care of you. I feed you when you when couldn't feed yourself and watched you drop peas on the floor or something like that. The little boy making the bowl added a more thoughtful twist. As my mother says "once a man twice a child" We need to realize that at any time we may be in a situation where we have no control over, old age in this case, and that we all need to be more sensitive to the needs of others, especially out elderly. Sometimes I also think that parents need to be more aware of how they treat their children because one day they may need them and when they aren't around or treat their parents mean you sometimes wonder how that child was treated growing up. What goes around certainly does come around.
• United States
25 Aug 07
Yup right sometimes parents do this to their own child and it makes it easy for them to act on things... So even parents need to learn they can't do that too, not only the child when their parents get older.. Kids pick up so much in their childhood years..
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Aug 07
That is a very touching story... glad I read it. Makes me feel even worse for old people, how terrible to have only the memory of your youth. I feel really sorry for that old man, it makes me not want to be old even more.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Sep 07
Aww Dsan we all are going to get old no matter what unless of course we die young than there is no way.. Not everyone is this way, but yet people can be.. What really got me in this is how they treated him as if he was a child again.. That to me was so wrong, for that they should treated the same when they get older and for some reason i really feel they will be.. Don't be afraid to get old because of that... Be happy you have people that will love and support you when you do get older! Have a great day!
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
18 Sep 07
this is a very touching story... i almost cry when i read it... unfortunately, a lot of these cases and even worst one happen in this world... we tend to be very impatient when we deal with our elderly parents... we tend to forget that they are the ones who take care and look after us with love and patient when we are still incapable of looking after ourselves... i pray that that people will become kinder especially to their loved ones...
1 person likes this
@MakDomMom (1474)
• United States
23 Aug 07
I have seen this in an email before. Very touching subject matter. Thank you for sharing this with others here on MyLot. We all need to take the time to not only thing about about ourselves - but others and their feelings as well.
• United States
23 Aug 07
Your welcome.. Sometimes people tend to forget this and a little remind every now and than is a good thing.. Makes us more aware of what's happening and what people actually feel and do..
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85487)
• United States
23 Aug 07
This story makes me want to throw the man and woman in jail! I can't imagine how anyone could treat a person like that. Seeing the situation through another's eyes is invaluable. I just find it so sad that anyone could get to this point in their humanity, story or not. : )
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Aug 07
I agree... Even though people do this they don't realize what they are doing until afterwards.. I think people that have these kind of intentions should stop and think of what is going to happen.. What did they think the old man was going to happy sitting there alone? Maybe they thought so.. After the fact though they realized it didn't..
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
25 Aug 07
That's a VERY touching story and so true that a child sees things in a whole different way. How sad it is that there are some elderly people that are treated alot like that poor old man, even worse! My daughter worked for many years in a nursing home and some of the stories she told made me cry. If we're lucky we'll all be old one day; I could never treat someone any way that I couldn't bear to be treated myself one day. That's why I've been here with my 90 year old mother for many years now and I'm thankful to still have her even if she has gotten old and VERY stubborn. Annie
• United States
23 Sep 07
I totally agree Annie, I too heard horror stories about nursing homes I don't ever want to be placed into one when I get old, I mean really they are mean there, not only treat you bad but they do hit you.. I can't even imagine myself like that cause I think I'd hit right back and probably knock them out of course if I had the strength to do so... Thanks for your reply!
1 person likes this
@paulsy (1263)
• Philippines
23 Aug 07
That almost made me cry! It's so sad to think about it, but it happens. It really does! Some people tend to think about themselves too much that they don't realize the pain they cause even to their own loved ones. We will all get old one day. We don't know whether we will be in the same situation. Let's pray that we grow old strong and healthy. But if I got sickly and helpless, I would wish my children would not make me a separate table to eat on. I would rather die young, in physical pain, than torment myself with the thought that my own family will lose their love for me just because I grew old and helpless.
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
23 Aug 07
I have read this story before also. It is so sad, but so true that children pick up on the everything. Makes you think, doesn't it.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Aug 07
Yes that it does for sure... Should make a person think twice on what to do in front of children mainly something like this...
1 person likes this
@Ricko82 (584)
• Philippines
24 Aug 07
What a sad story indeed. I hope it will never happen to any old people around. It's a good thing they still had time to correct what they have done. Had it been too late before they've realized that what they did was wrong, they surely would carry that guilt for the rest of their lives. I hope that no one will ever do this kind of tremendous disrespect to any parents. I don't think my parents are perfect, but even so, I can never do this kind of thing to them. Thanks for sharing the story, and mind you, I don't usually read long posts. But this one deserves my time. Cheers!
• United States
24 Aug 07
Your very welcome Ricko and I'm glad you did... I also hope it don't either but there are so many different kinds of people out there it's unreal.. Some I think do worse this this son does to his dad.. Well i don't know what can be actually.. See the old man with tears in his eyes would be so hurtful for me to see.. Unreal though huh!
1 person likes this
@Rose7179 (217)
• United States
18 Sep 07
Very touching story!! Children are sponges, its amazing to me how fast they pick up on things. My father is having problems like that too, we as a family talked about our options as he slowly gets worse(because the dr's cant figure out what is wrong with him) and putting him in a home is not one of them unless we can no longer talk care of him.
1 person likes this