I ran into a stranger as he passed by.<BR>"Oh, excuse me please" was my reply.<BR>He said, "Please excuse me too;<BR>wasn't even watching for you."<BR>We were very polite, this stranger and I.<BR>We went on our way and we said good-bye.<BR>But at home a different story is told,<BR>How we treat our loved ones,<BR>young and old.<P>Later that day, cooking the evening meal,<BR>My daughter stood beside me very still.<BR>When I turned, I nearly knocked her down.<BR>"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.<BR>She walked away, her little heart broken.<BR>I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.<P>While I lay awake in bed,<BR>God's still small voice came to me and said,<BR>"While dealing with a stranger,<BR>common courtesy you use,<BR>But the children you love, you seem to abuse.<BR>Look on the kitchen floor,<BR>You'll find some flowers there by the door.<BR>Those are the flowers she brought for you.<BR>She picked them herself, pink, yellow and blue.<BR>She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise,<BR>And you never saw the tears in her eyes."<P>By this time, I felt very small<BR>And now my tears began to fall.<BR>I quietly went and knelt by her bed;<BR>"Wake up, little girl, wake up," I said.<BR>"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"<BR>She smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.<BR>I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.<BR>I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."<P>I said, "Daughter, I'm sorry for the way<BR>I acted today;<BR>I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."<BR>She said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you<BR>anyway."<BR>I said, "Daughter, I love you too,<BR>and I do like the flowers,<BR>especially the blue."<P>Are you aware that:<BR>If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working<BR>for could easily replace us in a matter of days.<BR>But the family we left behind will feel<BR>the lost for the rest of their lives.<BR>And come to think of it, we pour ourselves<BR>more into work than to our family<BR>an unwise investment indeed.<BR>So what is behind the story?<BR>You know what is the full form of family?<BR>FAMILY = <B>(F)</B>ATHER <B>(A)</B>ND <B>(M)</B>OTHER, <B>(I)</B> <B>(L)</B>OVE <B>(Y)</B>OU ?<P>It is worthwhile to share more time with<BR>them as they are getting older.<BR>Make balance among all things.
