"FAMILY"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. Every so often, I run accross a piece of material that tugs my heart. It is so beautiful, I decided to include it in my "Tales Of Two Texas PawPaw". I didn't write it but I wish I had. It was sent to me by my daughter, and I'll always be thankful that she did. It's called "FAMILY"-----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 AND SAID, I FOUND THEM OUT BY THE TREE---I PICKED THEM BECAUSE THEIR PRETTY LIKE YOU---I KNEW YOU'D LIKE THEM, 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 STILL LOVE YOU ANYWAY---I SAID, SON, I LOVE YOU TOO--AND I LOVE 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 leave 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 really means?---(F)ather (A)nd (M)other (I) (L)ove (Y)ou.....This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off.