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Not all uplifting things are humorous! > 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 steps 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. Their > 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 they > saw a tear in his eye as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple > had for him were sharp admonitions, when he dropped a fork or spilled > milk. > > The four-year-old watched it all in silence. Then; one evening after > supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. > He asked his child sweetly, "What are you making?" > > Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for > you and mamma to eat your food on when I grow up." The four-year-old > smiled and went back to work. > > The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. No words were > spoken, but tears streamed down their cheeks and 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 dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. > > Children are unusually perceptive. Their eyes observe, their ears ever > listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. Remember > the saying, "Children are like sponges, they absorb everything and > anything that is put is front of them. > Author Unknown