The Crow on the Window: A Lesson in Patience and Love
As our parents age, their steps slow, their memories falter, and their hands sometimes tremble. Yet too often, we forget the decades they spent guiding us with patience, wisdom, and unwavering love.
This is the story of a father, his grown son, and a single crow on a window — a story that reminds us that love is timeless, and patience is a gift we can always return.
A Quiet Afternoon
An 80-year-old father and his 45-year-old son sat together on the sofa, the afternoon sun streaming gently through the living room window. Suddenly, a crow landed on the sill, tilting its head curiously.
“What is that?” the father asked.
“It’s a crow, Father,” the son replied.
A few minutes later, the question came again.
“It’s a crow,” the son said, a little more firmly.
Then again: “What is that?”
The son’s patience frayed. “I told you — it’s a crow!” he said sharply.
Moments later, the father asked once more. By now, the son’s frustration boiled over.
“Why do you keep asking the same thing? I’ve told you so many times — it’s a crow! Can’t you understand?”
The room went silent. The father said nothing. Slowly, he rose and returned with an old, worn diary — the same one he had kept since his son’s childhood. He handed it to him gently.
A Lesson From the Past
“Please read this page,” the father said softly.
The son opened the diary and began to read aloud:
“Today, when my three-year-old son and I sat on the sofa, a crow landed on the window. My little boy asked me what it was twenty-three times. Each time, I told him it was a crow. And each time, I hugged him, feeling nothing but joy at his curiosity.”
Tears filled the son’s eyes. He remembered being that curious child, asking endless questions, exploring the world with wonder. And now, he realized, he had responded with impatience and anger to his father — the same man who had shown him unconditional love for all those years.
Heartfelt Reflection
Our parents may repeat themselves, forget small details, or move more slowly with age. But behind every wrinkle, every tired sigh, is a lifetime of sacrifice, love, and care.
When they grow old, it is our turn to show the same patience and devotion they once gave us so freely.
Say it to yourself today:
“I want my parents to be happy always. They cared for me when I was helpless — now I will care for them with the same love and gratitude.”
Because one day, the voices we take for granted may become the memories we wish we could hear again. ❤️