family

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 matt er 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?