A very poor, elderly man was rather reluctantly allowed to move in with his son, daughter-in-law and five-year-old grandson, there to be cared for in his declining years. His hands were shaky, his eyesight was poor, and his walk was faltering and unsteady.
The old man’s increasing physical infirmities soon began to cause problems none more irritating than at mealtimes. More food ended up on the floor than in grandfather’s mouth. Each day seemed to find fresh coffee or soup stains on the tablecloth, while a bowl or plate was periodically dropped and broken. It was not long before his son’s growing impatience boiled to the surface.
At mealtime one day he angrily exclaimed, “Father, we’ve got to do something about your sloppy eating and the constant messes you make!”
His wife, nodding her agreement, rose to help set a small table in a far corner of the kitchen on which was placed an unbreakable wooden bowl. Isolated from his family, the old man sat with bowed head in the spot which became known as “Grampa’s place.”
During meals his son or daughter-in-law would occasionally glance at him, but neither of them seemed to notice the tears that at times rolled down his cheek. Conversation with Grampa was limited to sharp rebukes whenever he dropped food or spilled his drink. During this time his little grandson was silently and intently observing everything.
Returning home from work one evening, the father noticed his little boy playing on the floor with some wood scraps.
“Well, my little man,” he asked with a friendly smile, “just what are you making?”
Without hesitation and in the artless innocence of childhood, the little guy looked up, returning his father’s smile, and said, “I’m makin’ bowls jus’ like Grampa’s for you’n Mommie to use when I get growed up!”
That night, Grampa was back at the family table, once again sharing mealtimes with them.
We often consider that the divine warning in Galatians 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” refers only to vile, gross sins. But refusal to “honor thy father and thy mother” (whether the child is young or old) is equally serious and bears equally solemn consequences. Of course, there comes a time when “Children, obey your parents in the Lord” is no longer an appropriate principle for parent-child relationships. But never is there a time when children no longer need to treat their father and mother with respect.
In Galatians 5:19-2119Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19‑21) (JND), the Apostle Paul classes “strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, disputes, schools of opinion” with gross wickedness such as “fornication,” “licentiousness” and “murders.” We can readily understand the solemn consequences of engaging in the last three. But let none forget the consequences reaped from sowing the seeds of jealousy, anger or discourteousness especially towards those to whom honor is due (Rom. 13:7-87Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:7‑8)).
Ed.