Three mothers met near the school entrance, arriving to accompany their children home after the end of the school day. On a side bench sat an old man, listening to the mothers’ conversation!
The mothers boasted about their sons: One of them said: My son excels in basketball. He is active and strong. The second said: My son excels in singing, and his voice is wonderful. The third mother heard the words of the first and second mothers… and didn’t speak!
The boys coming out of school: Both asked her: Why are you silent? Why don’t you tell us about your son?! The mother answered: What should I tell you about my son? There’s nothing special to tell about him. My son is a boy like the rest of the boys. Then suddenly the bell rang, and all the boys came out of school.
An excellent athletic boy: Three boys ran in the direction of their mothers. The first boy didn’t look at his mother but rolled his ball on the sidewalk, threw it in the air, and hit it high. The three mothers looked at him and said: Truly, he is an excellent athlete.
A boy with the voice of a nightingale: The second boy said: Mom, Mom, carry my bag. He handed her his heavy bag. The boy walked in his way, singing a beautiful, cheerful song, and whistled with great joy, as if he were singing a melody. The three mothers heard the song and said: Truly, he sings with a wonderful, touching voice like a nightingale.
The third righteous boy: The third boy hurried to his mother, took from her the shopping basket full of lunch supplies. The boy and his mother walked and talked. The mothers noticed that the old man got up from the bench and followed them!
The old man’s astonishment: The mothers approached the old man and asked him: What is your opinion, grandfather, about our three sons? The old man answered with astonishment, saying: Three boys!! Then he added: I saw only one boy.
The righteous boy is the man of the future: The old man saw only one boy, and he is the third boy who with great politeness removed the load from his mother. He saw in him a future righteous young man who loves his mother more than he loves himself. The old man felt that he was before a man from his early years, not an ordinary boy whom his mother pampers. This is what the old man saw and meant.