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,
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.
Allah mentions in Surah Al Isra
17:23-24
And your Lord has decreed that
you worship none but Him. And
that you be dutiful to your
parents. If one of them or both
of them attain old age in your
life, say not to them a word of
disrespect, nor shout at them
but address them in terms of
honour.
And lower unto them the wing
of submission and humility
through mercy, and say: "My
Lord! Bestow on them Your
Mercy as they did bring me up
when I was small."