** I've had the privilege to spend the last dozen or so years in the company of many Senior Citizens. They are treated quite badly, many times by their own family.
I heard this story many years ago and it had a great impact on me and helped to bridge the generation gap between the elderly and myself. Maybe it will help you too. A little understanding can go a long way.
The Old Man and His Grandson
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There
was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing,
his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and
spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth. His son and
his son's wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather at last had to sit
in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food in an earthenware
bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards the table with his
eyes full of tears. Once, too, his trembling hands could not hold the bowl, and
it fell to the ground and broke. The young wife scolded him, but he said nothing
and only sighed. Then they bought him a wooden bowl for a few half-pence, out of
which he had to eat.
They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. "What are you doing there?" asked the father. "I am making a little trough," answered the child, "for father and mother to eat out of when I am big."
The man and his wife looked at each other for a while, and presently began to cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth always let him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a little of anything.
ORIGINAL SITE: The Old Man and His Grandson
They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. "What are you doing there?" asked the father. "I am making a little trough," answered the child, "for father and mother to eat out of when I am big."
The man and his wife looked at each other for a while, and presently began to cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth always let him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a little of anything.
