Thist touched my heart as you are all my FAMILY. I can't even remember the times I myself have said not right now I am too busy. Love to All Deb > > > > > >F A M I L Y > > > >I ran into a stranger as he passed by, > > > >"Oh excuse me please" was my reply. > > > >He said, "Please excuse me too; > > > >I wasn't watching for you." > > > >We were very polite, this stranger and I. > > > >We went on our way and we said good-bye. > > > >But at home a different story is told, > > > >How we treat our loved ones, young and old. > > > >Later that day, cooking the evening meal, > > > >My son stood beside me very still. > > > >When I turned, I nearly knocked him down. > > > >"Move out of the way," I said with a frown. > > > >He walked away, his little heart broken. > > > >I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken. > > > >While I lay awake in bed, > > > >God's still small voice came to me and said, > > > >"While dealing with a stranger, > > > >common courtesy you use, > > > >but the family you love, you seem to abuse. > > > >Go and look on the kitchen floor, > > > >You'll find some flowers there by the door. > > > >Those are the flowers he brought for you. > > > >He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue. > > > >He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise, > > > >you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes." > > > >By this time, I felt very small, > > > >And now my tears began to fall. > > > >I quietly went and knelt by his bed; > > > >"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said. > > > >"Are these the flowers you picked for me?" > > > >He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree. > > > >I picked 'em because they're pretty like you. > > > >I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue." > > > >I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today; > > > >I shouldn't have yelled at you that way." > > > >He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. > > > >I love you anyway." > > > >I said, "Son, I love you too, > > > >and I do like the flowers, especially the blue." > > > >FAMILY > > > >Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company > > > >that we are working for could easily replace us in > > > >a matter of days. > > > >But the family we left behind will feel the loss > > > >for the rest of their lives. > > > >And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more > > > >into work than into our own family, > > > >an unwise investment indeed, > > > >don't you think? > > > >So what is behind the story? > >Do you know what the word FAMILY means? > > > >FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU > > > >> > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > >