All of us have parents or know other people whom we realize are advancing in years and getting old. As they progress in their age, we sometimes lose our patience with them and become upset or even angry. We forget the times when we were younger and they were kind, caring, and tolerant of our persistent questions and inquiries about so many things.
It is important for all of us to remember our aged loved ones and the love they once openly demonstrated for us. The following story is a great reminder…
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An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45- year-old, highly educated son, when suddenly a crow perched on their window.
The father asked his son, “What is that?”
The son replied, “It is a crow”.
After a few minutes, the father asked his son the second time, “What is that?”
The son said “Father, I just now told you. “It’s a crow”.
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the third time, “What is that?”
By this time some expression of irritation was obvious in the son’s tone when he said to his Father, with a rebuff. “It’s a crow, a crow!”
A little after, the father asked his son again, the 4 fourth time, “What is that?”
This time the son shouted at his father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, when I have told you so many times, “IT IS A CROW!” Are you not able to understand this?”
A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his son was born. On opening the book, he asked his son to read a particular page. The son took the old diary, and he began to read the page his father had selected. The following words were written in the diary:
“Today my little son, aged three, was sitting with me on the sofa when a crow was sitting on the window ledge. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for all 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated, I rather felt affection for my innocent child”.
- Anonymous
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When the little child asked his father 23 times “What is that?” the father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times. Yet, when the father asked his son the same question just four times, the son was irritated and annoyed.
So…
When your parents attain old age, do not spurn them, lose patience or look upon them as a burden. Speak to them with gracious words, be kind, be tolerant, forbearing, humble and understanding with them. Honor your parents. (Exodus 20:12a, Ephesians 6:2 ESV)
Remind and tell yourself every day, “I want to see my parents happy for as long as they live. They have cared for me ever since I was a small child and have always showered their selfless love on me. I will look after and take care of my aging parents in the best way I can. I will always try to say good and kind words to them, no matter how old they get or how they react and behave.”
Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22
Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. Job 12:12 NLT
“Love your parents. We are so busy growing up, we often forget they are also growing old.” Anonymous
“Love your parents and treat them with loving care. For you will only know their value when you see their empty chair.” – Anonymous
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If you have a story that you think might bless others, I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.
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