The Adventure Of Super Kamote

A great story. One to remember.

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now……………

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, sometime 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 in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream own 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 oiled.

On a positive note, I’ve learned that, no matter what happens how bad it seem today, life goes on and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that 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.

I’ve learned that, regardless of your relationship with your
parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as
making a “life.”

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I’ve learned that 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. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open
heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that 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’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

ME and MY BOSS

When I Take a long time to finish,
I am slow,
When my boss takes a long time,
he is thorough

When I don’t do it,
I am lazy,
When my boss does not do it,
he is busy,

When I do something without being told,
I am trying to be smart,
When my boss does the same,
he takes the initiative,

When I please my boss,
I am apple polishing,
When my boss pleases his boss,
He is cooperating,

When I make a mistake,
I am an idiot.
When my boss makes a mistake,
He’s only human.

When I am out of the office,
I am wondering around.
When my boss is out of the office,
He’s on business.

When I am on a day off sick,
I am always sick.
When my boss is a day off sick,
He must be very ill.

When I apply for leave,
I must be going for an interview .
When my boss applies for leave,
it’s because he’s overworked

When I do good,
my boss never remembers,
When I do wrong,
he never forgets

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college  degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher  was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human  being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, ‘Smile.’ The class was  asked to go out and smile at three people and document their  reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after  we  were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to  McDonald’s one crisp March morning. It was just  our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were  standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone  around us began to back away, and then even my  husband did.

I did not  move an inch… an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me  as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned  around I smelled a horrible ‘dirty body’ smell, and there standing  behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked  down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was  ‘smiling’ His beautiful  sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched for  acceptance.

He said,  ‘Good day’ as he counted the few coins he had been  clutching.

The second  man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the  second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his  salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there  with them.

The young lady at the counter  asked him what they wanted.

He said, ‘Coffee is all Miss’  because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the  restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be  warm).

Then I really felt it – the  compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man  with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on  the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold  hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, ‘Thank you.’

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, ‘I did not do this for you. God is here working  through me to give you hope.’

I started to cry as I walked away  to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and  said, ‘That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me  hope..’

We held hands for a moment and at  that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we  are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light  of God’s sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last  evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in ‘my project’ and the  instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said,  ‘Can I share this?’ I slowly nodded as she got the  attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when  I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to  heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the  people at McDonald’s, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a  college student. I graduated with one of the  biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS – NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.