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, he sometimes 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 Momma to eat your food from 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 words were 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 message 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 us be wise builders.
- Author Unknown -

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

A Letter to Mom

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room.
She said: "How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?"
The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. 
We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it."
Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer? 
Doesn't God care any more?
Where were you, God, when my son needed you?"
The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university."
Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son.
She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. "Would you like a lock of his hair ?" the nurse asked.
Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 
"I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold. 
Always thinking of someone else. 
Always wanting to help others if he could."
Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. 
She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. 
The drive home was difficult. 
It was even harder to enter the empty house.
She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.
She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. 
She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.
It was around midnight when Sally awoke. 
Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. 
The letter said :
"Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say "I Love You". I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me.
He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. 
You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. 
Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. 
Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? 
I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important.
That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. 
Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you.
God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was H e when I needed him?' "God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. 
He was right there, as He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. 
To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. 
Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. 
I'm sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you.
I don't hurt anymore. 
The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. 
The Angel said I was a Special Delivery ! How about that ?
Signed with Love from God, Jesus  and Me.
 "When you're down to nothing, God is up to something."

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/