FAMILY

Also from the email bag. 

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."



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


This past weekend I saw this very story play out, only the little boy is nearly a man.  Brimming with excitement, he wanted to show his mother the first car he wanted to buy.  But she would have nothing to do with it, offered only discouragement, and, thus far, no epiphany or resolution.  Maybe she was gripped with fear of her child on his own on the streets and highways.  I don't know.

I can understand the anxiety, and even share some of it.  But Lord, please don't let me crush the hopes and dreams of these young ones you've gifted me with.