I was reminded of this best-loved poem today and I wanted to repost it as a blog for you to remind you of the people in your life that love you so very much and are showing you how much they love you in so many different ways but might be feeling unheard, unseen or unvalued – even if only a little. In love, a little feeling of underappreciation can cause profound hurt.

Perhaps you are (unknowingly) taking their love for granted or perhaps you are too busy to take the time or make the effort to show them how much you love and care for them. But it doesn’t really take that much time and it doesn’t really take that much effort to give someone the gift of your love and let them know how much they mean to you.

Please stop thinking there will always be a tomorrow or keeping thoughts of love, appreciation and gratitude for the people in your life to yourself. There is not always a tomorrow and sometimes the people you are most certain will be there in the morning – our children, friends and family who are seemingly young and in good health, new lovers… are the ones that suddenly depart without any notice or warning. Please…. today… take the time to let at least one person in your life know how much you love them. And when they take the time to show you how much they love you – even if its just with a simple bunch of wildflowers picked by the side of the road, a hug that is full of warmth and presence, a special text or email etc… please acknowledge their love. Its the only thing that really matters in life.

FAMILY (Author Unknown)

I ran into a stranger as he passed by, “Oh, excuse me Please” was my reply.
He said, “Please excuse me too; Wasn’t even watching for you.”

We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said good-bye.
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 daughter stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked her down.
“Move out of the way,” I said with a frown.
She walked away, her little heart was 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 children you love, you seem to abuse.

Look on the kitchen floor,
You’ll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers she brought for you.
She picked them herself: pink, yellow and blue.
She stood quietly not to spoil the surprise, and you never saw the tears in her eyes.”

By this time, I felt very small, and now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by her bed;
“Wake up, little girl, wake up,” I said.
“Are these the flowers you picked for me?”

She 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, “Daughter, I’m sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn’t have yelled at you that way.”
She said, “Oh, Mom, that’s okay. I love you anyway.”
I said, “Daughter, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.”

Are you aware that: If we die 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 to our family –an unwise investment indeed.