the biggest point that I miss...

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."

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,
don't you think?
So what is behind the story?
---------------------------

I got it from friend's email, also read it somewhere on someone's blog before.
What really made me think about it is that the way I always keep ignoring giving more attention to my family. It is not this poem made me think about this now, it has been always in the corner of my mind. The fact that we are less caring and more ignorant about our families, or in general, about the people we love and who loves us.

When was the last time I called my parents or brothers/sister? How many emails/SMSs I sent them in past week/month? Although it just takes few minutes to call or email, although it is a matter of finding and dialing home number from your phone, I do it so rarely. Maybe the feeling that nothing new to tell/inform them, maybe it is the emails they sent me and update how the things are there, maybe my sister's regular SMSs/emails. But sadly, I realize that I forgot to express my feelings to them, at least give them more bit of attention and care, at least hear their voices more often and let them hear me as well. I love my family more than anyone, doubtless, I keep it warm in my feelings, but I just don't or can't express it. Is it because of the way I was brought up? Or because I spent so small time with them as I left to study when I was 11. Since then I was away from warm family environment, I couldn't see my sister and brothers growing up and my parents getting older. Maybe I show my love to them by supporting them financially, with my short visits once in a year or two? Does it mean I am turning more materialistic?!
Whatever it is, the only one thought of being unable to have this chance to express myself to them when it may be late is stinging my heart. They won't be always there...

Call them more often, visit them more regularly, write and ask them more.