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 goodbye.
>
>
>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