LETTER
FROM THE EDITOR
I'm
so happy it is Spring in Michiana … finally!!! This spring
weather always gives me a renewed spirit and reminds me of
what life is all about as I help count the days until the
next Tee Ball practice with my son or watch the birds as they
try to find a perfect spot for a family nest or even grill
that first burger and eat it out on the deck wearing a sweatshirt
and jeans. Life is good.
It
is also a great time for me to rekindle my friendships with
people I haven't seen all winter and come out of my hibernation
of sorts! Our May cover photo is an absolute result of this
… as I recently bumped into my dear old friend from my junior
high school days, Tracey. She and her sweet little guy, Matthew,
let us shoot their amazing photos and capture some awesome
candid moments of the mother and son bond that is so very
special. Thanks so much, Tracey!
Now
read this email that I received below - I hope it will be
a vitamin for YOUR soul too. Cherish and remember …
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 heartbroken. 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 our 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 means?
FAMILY
= (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU
-
Author Unknown (taken from an email excerpt that is currently
floating around in cyberspace. No author or source to credit
could be found.)
Happy
Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers in Michiana and
a very special Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Sally Cox, who
always took the time to notice my bouquet of surprise flowers
and to make them last in a vase for days and then even pressed
them in our family Bible as a keepsake. I love you, Mom.
