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[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I ran into a stranger as he passed by,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]"Oh excuse me... please" was my reply.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]He said, "Please excuse me too;[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I wasn't watching for you."[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]We were very polite, this stranger and I.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]We went on our way and we said good-bye.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]But at home a different story is told,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]How we treat our loved ones, young and old.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]Later that day, cooking the evening meal,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]My son stood beside me very still.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]He walked away, his little heart broken.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]While I lay awake in bed,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]God's still small voice came to me and said,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]"While dealing with a stranger,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]common courtesy you use,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]But the family you love, you seem to abuse.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]Go and look on the kitchen floor,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]You'll find some flowers there by the door.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]Those are the flowers he brought for you.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]You never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]By this time, I felt very small,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]And now my tears began to fall.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I quietly went and knelt by his bed;[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I love you anyway."[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]I said, "Son, I love you too,[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]FAMILY[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]that we are working for could easily replace us in[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]a matter of days.[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]But the family we left behind will feel the loss[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans Serif]for the rest of their lives.[/FONT]