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This is the email going around my office today. Sorry, not gonna put it behind a cut, and I'm not friends locking it either.
I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week
from now, a month from now,
a year from now.
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 nee d to be able to throw something back sometimes.
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.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week
from now, a month from now,
a year from now.
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 nee d to be able to throw something back sometimes.
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.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
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