I’ve Learned

(by Andy Rooney) I've learned that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person. I've learned that when you're in love, it shows. I've learned that just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day. I've learned that having a child fall asleep in your …

100 Ways to Raise Kind, Intelligent Children

(author unknown) 1. Teach them to respect others by showing others respect. 2. Place the same value on being well-mannered and kind as you do on being popular, wealthy, attractive, good at sports, or getting straight A’s. 3. Read to them every night, and take the time to enjoy it. 4. Teach them to have …

The Letter

(author unknown) A letter from an elderly woman from a nursing home. I am 82 years old, I have 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and a room of 12 square meters. I no longer have a home or expensive things, but I have someone who will clean my room, prepare food and bedding, measure …

What Does Love Mean?

(author unknown) A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader, deeper, and more profound than anyone could have ever imagined! 'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore... So my grandfather …

Grandfather’s Table

(author unknown) 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 …

All the Way to the River

(by Elizabeth Gilbert) Some years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus in New York City during rush hour. Traffic was barely moving. The bus was filled with cold, tired people who were deeply irritated with one another, with the world itself. Two men barked at each other about a shove that might or …

A Letter to My Grandfather

(author unknown, published as a letter to the editor) Dear Grandpa: You have been such an important part of my childhood. From my earliest days, the lessons you taught me have served as my guide to a good and proper life. When I denied taking cookies from the cookie jar, you taught me why it …

Benched

(by Amanda Goodman, adapted for this article) I’ll never forget it. I was a high school freshman and we were in the middle of a heated basketball game with one of our rivals. I was on the floor when I heard my coach yelling for me, “Mandy! Mandy!” I heard him. But I was blatantly …

The Interruption

(by Jared Byas) When I was a pastor, I had an experience with a woman once that has forever changed my life. There were two buildings at the church: my office was in one and our weekly pastor's meeting was in the other. One day, I was literally running to a meeting from one building …

The Last Train Car

(author unknown) Every month Martin’s parents took a trip to see Grandma and came home on the same train the next day. One day the child said to his parents: “I'm already grown up. Can I go to my grandma's alone?" After a brief discussion, his parents accepted. They stood with him as he waited …