While reading the news on the internet, I came across a story I would like to share with you.
An old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his vision blurred, and his footstep slipped. The family dined together at the table. But stubborn trembling hands and loss of sight were a cause of difficulty during meals ... Grain peas came down from the spoons to the floor. If he took a glass, the milk would slip on the tablecloth. That mess angered the son and daughter.
"We have to do something with our father," he said. "I have had enough of this shedding of milk, noisy food, and food on the floor."
That is why the husband and wife set up a small table in the corner. There, the grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. After the grandfather broke a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family looked in the direction of their grandfather, sometimes there was a tear in his eye. The only words they had for him—when he dropped a plate or spilled food—were harsh warnings.
All of this was silently watched by the four-year-old child.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked sweetly, "What are you doing?"
Also sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am creating dishes for you and Mom, where you can eat when I grow up."
The four-year-old then smiled and continued to work.
These words hit the parents so hard that they were left speechless. Tears began to run down their cheeks. Although they did not say a word, they knew what they had to do. That evening, the husband took the grandfather’s hand and gently brought him back to the family table. From that day on, the grandfather ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, it seemed that neither the husband nor the wife cared when he dropped a fork, when the milk spilled, or when the tablecloth got dirty…
For me this story has a strong message about how we treat our elders and how our actions shape the next generations. Children learn from us, copy our actions and pass them on in the years to come. Respect and love for elders are not just a display of our humanity, but a lesson that we impart to our children. Let us recall through this story the importance of compassion, patience and harmony in the family.
If we want a better world, we must become better people.