Lessons from email.... Thanks Sandy!

Subject: The Wooden Bowl
The Wooden Bowl
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 father," 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 down 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 soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go 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.!

I've learned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about .......I just did.

Ok, I know all this wisdom you just read is a copy of an email. But there are some pretty powerful statements in there, and a couple of those just ring in my head when I think about them.

For instance: "Sometimes life gives you a second chance." I am the poster child for second chances. After loosing my house, my marriage, and my entire social safety net, I can still say I have a good life now. Sure, I am living on nothing, trying to fund a business venture, and at times even buying milk and bread with a credit card, but I have another house, another relationship with a man I adore, I have all my children, and I can have a rational conversation with my ex if necessary. Second chances. This one also goes with "making a living is not making a life", as well as the catchers mitt thing.

"When I have pains it does not mean I have to be one." Whew!. After being on Vicoden for a year and seeing life from the other side of that.... well... hell yeah. I was a real pain while I was in pain and addicted. Do you think I could see it? Nope. I didn't even know I was addicted! I just knew the pills made it (the pain) not matter. Someday I will have to write about that.

It is just amazing and a testament to ~S~ that he stayed through the ordeal. I didn't understand a lot of things as I viewed the world through a narcotic haze, but they are clear now. And it has given me an entirely different view, or maybe a new level of toleration/understanding to my friends currently dealing with similar stuff.

I just hope I have raised my children with passion and enough compassion they will never feed me from a wooden bowl.