英语散文:爷爷的饭桌

Grandpa's Table 

    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, sometimes 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 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 Grand- father'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. Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb.

    If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future.

    Let's be wise builders and role models. Lord, we ask not that you move the mountains, but that You give us the strength to climb. "Life is about people connecting with people, and making a positive difference." "Take care of yourself, and those you love, today, and everyday!"

 

    一位年老体衰的父亲去和他儿子、儿媳妇，还有四岁的小孙子一起生活。可他双手打颤，走路不稳，眼睛视力还不好，看不清楚东西。

    一大家人在一张桌子上吃饭，可老父亲的手颤抖得厉害，又不能看清楚，吃饭很困难。豌豆从调羹滚落到地上，可当他伸手去抓的时候，杯子里的牛奶又洒在桌布上了。儿子和儿媳妇为眼前的脏乱感到非常的恼火。

 

    儿子说：“我们必须为老头做些什么，我已经受够了他杯子里洒出的牛奶，吃饭时发出的响声，以及把饭洒得满地都是。”

 

    因此，夫妻俩就在房间的角落里放了一张小桌子。于是，全家人一起进餐的时候，而只有父亲一个人在角落里吃饭。父亲每次吃饭的时候都会打破一两个碟子，因此他们就 把他的饭放在一个木头碗里。家人瞥爷爷的时候，发现有时爷爷眼里含着泪花。而且，夫妻俩同父亲之间唯一的交流就是当父亲不小心丢掉叉子或者把食物弄洒时严厉的训斥声。

    他们四岁的儿子静静地注视着眼前发生的一切。一天晚餐前，爸爸注意到他的儿子在地上玩弄一些木片，爸爸亲切地问：“你正在做什么呢？” 那个小男孩也同样语气亲切地回答到：“哦，我正在为你和妈妈做一个吃饭用的小碗，当我长大以后你们就可以用了。”

 

    这个四岁的小孩笑着接着做他的碗。孩子的话深深震撼了这对父母的心灵，他们相对无语，眼泪顺着他们的脸颊流了下来。虽然他们没有说一句话，但是他们知道他们必须做些什么了。

 

    那天晚上，儿子抓住老父亲的手，慢慢地带着他回答桌子旁。那天晚上他和家人一起共进晚餐。当叉子掉下，牛奶四溢，桌布弄脏的时候，夫妻俩不再介意。孩子们有着很强的洞察力，眼睛在看，耳朵在听，以及他们的大脑处理着他们所收取到的信息。

 

    如果他们耐心地看见我们为家庭每个成员所提供一个愉快的家庭氛围，他们将会在他们以后的生活中模仿这种态度。明智的父母意识到每一天所建立起来的砖石都是为了孩子的未来铺垫的。

 

    让我们成为那些明智的建设者和各自角色的楷模吧。天那！我们又没有要求你移动高山，但是你必须给我们攀登高山的力量。“生活是人与人之间的交往，并且那是绝对有意义的。”“今天，……每天都要照顾好你自己……和你所爱的人！”

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