The Wooden Bowl... Thanks Patricia Richards Whitehead (PHS 50)

This great recycle is one of my very favorites.  A few years ago, soon after our young granddaughter, Tobey, saw it she sent me a sweet email saying, among other loving things:  "Grandpa, You will never have to use a wooden bowl. I will take care of you."  None of us want our kids to take care of us as we age, although I can remember many households when I grew up where older parents were living with their offspring and it seemed to work out well.  The oldsters were just important members of the family.

My mother's mother, Mary Clark, widow to Abraham Clark, lived with us for several years before she died and I remember her as one of the sweetest people in this world.  She neither ever scolded me nor my siblings.  I know where my mother, Mary, got her sweetness.

Thanks Pat!




Sent: Wed, October 20, 2010 11:51:13 AM

Subject: Fw: The Wooden Bowl





This has been around before but thought it was worth sending again for some of you that may not have seen it.



Subject: The Wooden Bowl



The Wooden Bowl



The Wooden Bowl

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.