23 Times — Answering with Love

[Hubi]

Just imagine this scene for a moment:

An 82-year-old father is sitting on the sofa with his 50-year-old son.

The father has grown old. He is a little frail now, slower, perhaps also more forgetful.

Suddenly, a crow lands on the windowsill.

The father asks:

“What is that?”

“A crow, Dad.”

A few seconds later:

“What is that?”

The son is already becoming a little impatient.

“Dad, it’s a crow. I just told you that.”

Then the father asks for a third time:

“What is that, my son?”

Now the son loses his patience:

“It’s a crow, for goodness’ sake! How many times do I have to tell you?”

The father says nothing.

He goes into his room and comes back with an old notebook.

He hands it to his son.

“Please read this.”

The son reads:

“Today I sat on the sofa with my three-year-old son. A crow landed by the window. My son asked me 23 times, ‘Daddy, what is that?’ And every single time I answered, ‘That’s a crow, my sweetheart.’ I took him in my arms and stroked his head. I was grateful for his curiosity. It was a moment filled with love and warmth.”

The son reads...

and falls silent.

Because now he understands.

He was that little boy.

Back then, he had asked 23 times.

And his father had answered patiently 23 times.

Now the father was old.

And suddenly, the son’s patience was gone.

---

Isn’t that something we should all stop and think about?

As children, we need an incredible amount of patience.

Our parents explain things to us over and over again.

They help us.

They wait for us.

They listen to us.

They carry us.

And sometimes we ask the same question ten times.

And they still say:

“That’s okay, sweetheart.”

But then our parents grow old.

Now they need patience.

Now they may need a little more time.

Now they may tell the same story for the third time.

Now they may ask something they have already asked before.

And we might think:

“You already know that.”

But perhaps we should think differently:

“Now it’s my turn to be patient.”

---

The Bible gives us very clear counsel on this.

At Proverbs 23:22, we read:

“Listen to your father who caused your birth, and do not despise your mother when she grows old.”

Notice those last words:

“When she grows old.”

Jehovah knows that our parents grow old.

He knows that, at some point, the roles begin to change.

The hands that once held ours may begin to tremble.

The feet that once walked beside us may become slower.

The people who once explained everything to us may suddenly need things explained to them.

And Jehovah does not say:

“Be patient with them as long as it is easy.”

No.

He specifically says:

“...when she grows old.”

Especially then.

---

And Ephesians 4:32 gives us another beautiful principle:

“But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate.”

Kindness is not shown only in big things.

Sometimes it is shown in one simple sentence:

“I’ll explain it to you again.”

Or:

“Go ahead. Tell me the story again.”

Or simply:

“I have time.”

Perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts we can give our parents.

Not money.

Not something expensive.

Time.

Closeness.

Patience.

A hug.

A listening ear.

---

And someday...

perhaps the day will come when we no longer have that opportunity.

Then we might give anything to sit on that sofa one more time.

To hear that voice one more time:

“What is that?”

And perhaps we would say:

“Dad, ask me again.”

“Mom, tell me the story again.”

“I have time now.”

But by then, it may be too late.

That is why we should not save our love for later.

If our parents are still with us:

Call them.

Visit them.

Listen to them.

Be patient with them.

And if they tell the same story for the fifth time...

perhaps we can think about those 23 questions.

Because back then, their patience was a gift to us.

Today, we can give that gift back.

---

And perhaps we can take just one sentence with us:

It is not the question that matters — it is the person asking it.

The crow was completely unimportant.

The question was unimportant.

But the little boy was important.

And that old father is just as important today.

Perhaps one day each of us will be sitting on that sofa.

Perhaps we will be the ones asking something twice.

Perhaps we will need someone who does not respond with irritation, but with love.

And perhaps then we will be grateful for people who understood:

Love does not count how many times I have to explain something.
Love asks: How can I show you today that you matter to me?

So...

When someone needs our patience today...

let’s give it to them.

When someone needs our time...

let’s give it to them.

And when someone asks the same question one more time...

perhaps we will answer not only with our words.

But with everything we do:

**“Yes. I’ll tell you again.

Because you matter to me.”**

[AnnieB]

Thank you, for Jehovah provide through you today the words I needed to hear. My dear mother is dealing with dementia and this happening. I really appreciate every word you said.