Family First
By red_amethyst
@red_amethyst (3518)
Philippines
September 17, 2008 8:45pm CST
I received this in one of my email and I wanted to share it t you. post your comments and reactions.
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 broke. i didnt realize how harshly Id 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 youll 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
Are these flowers you picked for me? He smiled, I found out by the three I picked em because theyre pretty like you I knew youd like em especially the blue
I said, son Im very sorry for the way I acted today I shouldnt 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, dont you think? So what is behind the story?
Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY=Father And Mother I Love YOU
6 people like this
24 responses
@andak2007 (3229)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
hi i love the story and the value that this story entails..it made me realize also how rude i am sometimes to my kids...and to my husband...now it makes me think twice before i raise my hand to spank them.
3 people like this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
thanks for reading and replying. now we have to really think before we make ridiculous comments to our family
2 people like this
@caudill2883 (60)
• United States
18 Sep 08
i know that we all need to stop and think about this. we have limited time on earth do we want it to be a pissing contest the whole time or share our love and be happy towards our family.
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
hi! thanks for the reply. sometimes we really need to reflect.
2 people like this
@Annamcarra (116)
• United States
21 Sep 08
my maiden name is Caudill, nice to viryualy meet you wonder if we are kindred
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
18 Sep 08
It is funny, we can be so nice and kind to people who are of no relation to us, but when it comes to our own family, we seem to want to distance ourselves from them.
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
19 Sep 08
thanks for the response. hope you'll add me as a friend. we really have to reflect how we treat our family. take care
@quinnkl (1667)
• United States
18 Sep 08
I have seen this many times and it is very poignant. I wish we all would stop and think before we talk, let alone yell and get irritated. But none of us do it always. I agree, time is too short, we need to make sure our family knows we love them first and foremost, daily!
2 people like this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
sometimes we really get irritated immediately even if it is just a small mistake by our family member. but if we cannot control our emotion hopefully we can admit our mistake and say sorry to our loved ones
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
18 Sep 08
I love this post. I am fortunate or blessed to come from a very close knit family. My parents dearly loved at their children, and we in turn loved them. We have had our disagreements, as all families do, but it has never diminished the love we have for one another.
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
its really nice when you have a close family ties. so that whenever you have problems you always have someone to count on! take care. god bless
@Margarit (3676)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
This is a vey touching story that indeed moved you to be a better person not only to your family but to anyone esle. I love my family so much that I feel bad if my behavior switches. Im just only human and not perfect. Although, I am aware of what im doing their will be times that my stress level is very high and indeed makes you feel to others that im like a monster. So, because your family knows you you better, I ask them to remind me if that will occur. Family for me is the foundation of life.
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
you're right. family is really the foundation. but nowadays there are a lot of broken family. hopefully parents can still teach values to their children
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
thanks for the reply. our family should really be our priority in every aspect of our life
@maple_kisses (2156)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
Ouch! You just hit a sensitive nerve here!
You just brought tears to my eyes. I hope my father could read this...
Thanks for sharing this. Sorry, I'm just a little "speechless" for now...
2 people like this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
no problem maple. you can share your story soon. just pray for your father. or better yet copy the story, print it then paste it somewhere everyone in the family can read
1 person likes this
@LoovesAmethyst (351)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
hello red_amethyst :) welcome to myLot. we have a quite similar name, isn't it? :) I bet you are just as surprised as I am. :) LOL.
I grew up being taught by my parents with a very strong loyalty, love and devotion to my family. I could NOT remember a time when I did not choose my family. Some people say that "blood is thicker than water". In my experience, it's true. Happy myLotting! :) Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@LoovesAmethyst (351)
• Philippines
19 Sep 08
We both have the same gemstone too. :) Thanks. Hope you have a nice day :)
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
yup, ive noticed that also. my birthstone is amethyst that's why I chose it as my username.
Thats good that you always choose your family. take care
1 person likes this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
18 Sep 08
Thank you so much for sharing this. It has actually brought a tear to my eye. You are so right. Family is so important and can be gone without a moment's notice. Jobs can come and go and people outside of the family circle can come and go. But we don't want to lose sight of our family and what they mean to us.
We need to value each other in the family unit. We need to appreciate and be there for each other. Thank you so much for the words of wisdom and insight. Have a good day!
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Thanks for appreciating my response. It means a lot to me that you share the same emotions. Take care.
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
i still read this once in a while. to keep reminding me that family is really important. and everytime i read this i still need a tissue. haha. thanks for the response. take care. happy myLotting!
@cecelgay (563)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
I have read that story twice and it was really good, there is a lesson that should we take..
The story is about on how you treat stranger people and our love ones... Sometimes we take for granted our loved ones,we didn't see their effort to show how much they care for us rather the one that we see is their faults while to people whom we really dont know we show respect...
That time i have read that e-mail i reflect myself, do i acted like that to my kids or to my love ones? did i always take them for granted? sometimes it is sad to know that we are that kind of person, we have a very short patience to our love ones and sometimes we never know that we hurt them so much...
2 people like this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
19 Sep 08
its really touching. even me after I read that story i reflected also. and after that I always try to be polite to my son, my husband and the rest of my family. we have a short time in this world so lets make our loves ones feel loved.
thanks for the response! happy myLotting. take care
@pehpot (4762)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
That was a very moving story my dear friend. I can see you are enjoying your stay here in mylot. I never thought that the word family means that way. I was enlightened and now I am thinking if I am harsh at my kids, sometimes I do but now whenever I feel mad at them I will just think of this story you shared with us. Thanks for sharing and keep em coming!
2 people like this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
yes. its really touchy. now we really have to think twice always. lets make our family feel loved
2 people like this
@carmela0210 (1591)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
i really think that family first before anything else!!!i should deal with my family more kindly, and courteous than anybody outside my brood, but ofcourse im not being rude with anyone.
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
29 Sep 08
that's the spirit. just be polite to everybody. stay active
@newmum (26)
•
18 Sep 08
Wow, tissue moment, sorry, i have a six month old son and i hope every day that i can love him more than yesterday but not as much as i will tomorrow, i hope i will always have the time and patience to attend to him with all the love in the world because it is nothing less than what he deserves, his first word was dada just a few days ago, and as much as i was elated with his early development i elso resented him, and my partner also, only briefly, as i am the one who is with him all day, every day, tending to his needs, feeding, changing, bathing, nursing, everything, i felt it should of been me first, but it wasnt and im ok wih that now, but its going to be something i need to learn to deal with for future hurdles, his first day of school when he comes home bragging about his teacher, does he go there bragging about me? he will never fully understand how much i love him until he has children of his own and experiences that endless love a mother (or father) has for thier child.
2 people like this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
wow. just let your son know that you love him so much. even if he is still a baby whisper it to his ear always
2 people like this
@angel_of_charm (4134)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
honestly i do not know what the word FAMILY is...as a matter of fact i didn't even know if i know the true essence of a word FAMILY...a lot of things may had happen to my family..and a lot of those things are very painful but what i know is i had given the best shot for this family to live intact only to find out later on i was left behind with my own life because they just wont care...
1 person likes this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
oh that's so sad. hopefully you will still keep the story in mind so that when the time time that you yourself will marry and have children, you will teach them good things and you'll do everything to make your family intact. wish you all the luck! take care
@rayearth2601 (379)
• Indonesia
20 Sep 08
i had been received same email as you, several times ago. it's a nice email, and i agree with that contents. our family is the best for us, and we must keep it, and make they happy
@teka44 (3420)
• Brazil
18 Sep 08
Hi red. Beautiful post. I agree with you and it is sad to see people giving more importance and attention for work. I know some people that treat their families in a rude way but are so kind with strangers. It is wrong and unfair. We all need to think about things like that. Thanks for your nice post and have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
thanks for the reply. hopefully everyone who reads this will reflect on how they treat their families. take care
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
19 Sep 08
I received this one also, and have many times before but it is good reading anyway.. Family is first and foremost the most important people in the world but many people do not see it this way.. I love my family and would go to any lengths for them and I hope they would for me also.. Then again, family can be the most hurtful people in the world.. I wish all families would treat each other with the utmost respect, love and kindness, but sometime they don't.. Take care of yours and good luck to a New Mylotter..
1 person likes this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
you are right. reading this will remind that always. take care also
@belk89 (1103)
• Philippines
19 Sep 08
You were right about treating family members differently. I have done that several times before. But now that i am away from them and i missed them. It makes me wanna change things and i started to say i miss my mom and the rest of my family. I started to be affectionate towards them and let them know how much i care for them. It is a good feeling actually and i am glad that it is not yet too late for me to expressed how i feel towards them.
1 person likes this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
23 Sep 08
that alright. it is never too late to tell what you feel to your loved ones. take care
@Annamcarra (116)
• United States
18 Sep 08
Tears fill my eyes for the Love of the Son. My own ignorance no longer disguised in knowing what I should have done. Today I spent time with my little grandson and while cleaning up after every little mess I began to remember my dear Mother going behind me too. Oh, how I resented that and just wished she'd take the time to just be...with me. Running the vacuum I see that same look in his eyes. I stopped, turned the vacuum off and paused gazing into the windows of his Soul. I hugged him and said "Do You know what? I am cleaning the house because I Love You".
I bent down to kiss his forehead and he stretched out his little arms for a hug which I savored and enjoyed being in the moment. I told him I Loved him and he smiled and went back to eating his snack and I turned the vacuum back on. The minute he spoke to me next I turned it back off and left it off. In a moment of truth my little Grandson taught me the Love of my own Mother as I remember her and that right here ,right now in this moment is what truly matters. Just taking the time to recognize the true value of Love and experiencing each living moment. For moments are just that and they pass but Love is eternal. Thank You for sharing this story, it really touched my heart.
1 person likes this
@red_amethyst (3518)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
hi! I added you as my friend. hope you'll approve it. that's a good story. we really should spend sometime with our loved ones always. take care. god bless