Wooden Bowl - 木碗

 

Wooden Bowl

 

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year 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, 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 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.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future. Let's be wise builders and role models.

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.
• you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
• regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.
• making a living; is not the same thing as making a life.
• life sometimes gives you a second chance.
• you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
• 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.
• whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
• even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
• 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 still have a lot to learn.

木碗

这是一个会深深的印在您脑海中，长久记在您心中的故事。

一位在风烛残年的老人，与他的儿子，媳妇，及四岁的孙儿同住。老人的视力以经模糊昏花，双手不能控制的经常颤抖，脚步也是踉跄不稳。当全家一起用餐时，颤抖的手及衰退的视力造成老人用餐的困难。豆子会从汤匙里掉落，当他想握住杯子，牛奶会从杯子里晃出来，而把桌巾弄湿了。

 

儿子和媳妇对老人越来越没有耐心了，儿子说：“我们需要想个方法，我受够了他在饭桌上，打翻牛奶杯，食物掉到桌子下，吃饭时发出的响声。”

 

所以，两夫妻在餐厅的一个角落放了一个小桌子，从此，当全家享受晚餐的时候，老祖父单独的一人在角落里吃饭。因为老祖父曾经把碗盘打破，他的餐盘也改成木头做的碗钵了。偶而，不经意的眼光瞟向老人时，会看见他双眼含着泪，孤独的坐在角落里。但是两夫妇还是经常用着很尖锐的言词批评他把叉子或食物掉落桌下。

 

这一切，都看在四岁的小孙儿的眼中。

 

一天傍晚，在饭前，做父亲的看见小儿子坐在地上，玩耍般的磨着一块木头。

 

他和颜悦色并且好奇的问着：“你在做什么东西呀？”

 

孩子也同样愉悦的回答说：“我想做一个小木碗给你和妈妈，等我长大了，你们可以用这个碗来吃饭了！”四岁的孩儿，笑着说完了，又继续再磨着木头。

 

这句回答，使得这对夫妇哑口无言，沉默了许久，只见两行泪水默默的流下。 两个人都知道该如何去做了。

 

当晚，做儿子的牵着老父亲的手，温柔的把老人安置在家庭的餐桌上。在老人的余年，他每天都和儿孙一起用餐。再也没有人会因为他把食物打翻，或是弄脏了桌巾，去在意而责骂他了。

 

孩子们的感觉是敏锐的。他们的眼睛会观察，他们的耳朵会聆听，他们的头脑会思考所有吸收进来的讯息。当他们看到我们营造的是一个快乐的家庭，我们是用温柔，和善，忍耐来对待家人，他们以后的一生都会用相同的态度来对待每一个人。

 

聪明的父母会了解到，他们每天的一举一动，都是他们子女未来，行为走向的基石。让我们互相勉励，为了我们所爱的，好好的照顾自己，作一个有智慧的建筑师，良善的榜样，从现在开始。

 

我学习到:

• 孩子眼睛观察的比听到的多得多，我们所设立的榜样，也会决定他们未来行为的方向。
• 无论你和父母的关系如何，当他们离开你的生命后，你都会想念他们的。
• 生存不等于生活。
• 不要用两只手紧紧抓住生命中的每一件东西，我们需要学习放手，分享。
• 当你追寻快乐时，它反而会逃避你。但是，当你的心思，意念，是集中在家庭，朋友，别人的需要，你的工作，尽力作好你的本分时，快乐便会寻找到你。
• 当我用一颗开放的心去作决定时，我作的选择往往是正确的。
• 当我在痛苦当中时，我不需要成为造成痛苦的原因。
• 别人会忘记你曾说的话，别人会忘记你曾作的事，但是别人永远不会忘记你带给他们的感受。
• 生命的意义，是如何在别人的生命中，造成正面的影响。
• 我需要学习的永远不会终止。