This is a very touching and realistic story, Ron.  Thanks for sharing it
with all of us.
Raj
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron McKay" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 11:27 PM
Subject: Re: help in overcoming depression


> Raj, I want to thank you and many other members of the list for their
> helpful words.  I will share this note that was passed on to me.
>
>                                                    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
> Grandfather" 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 whenever 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 some
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 with, 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 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.
>
> Ron
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brightline" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 10:22 AM
> Subject: Re: help in overcoming depression
>
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