THE GIFT OF FAMILY (10); FAMILY, GOD'S GREAT GIFT

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." - Desmond Tutu

One of the only thing we unconsciously disregard, or hardly have respect for is Family. We put everything or everyone else above them.

There was a huge tree. A little boy loved to play around it everyday. He'd climb to the top, ate the apples, take a nap under the shade. He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by the little boy had grown and he no longer played frequently around the tree. One day, the boy came back to the tree looking sad. ‘Come and play with me’ the tree asked the boy. ‘I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more’ the boy replied. ‘I want toys. I need money to buy them.’ ‘Sorry, but I do not have money but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you'll have money.’ The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily and never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad. One day, he returned (after he'd become a man) and the tree was excited ‘Come play with me’ the tree said. ‘I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?” Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house.’ So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back. Again he was lonely and sad. One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. ‘Come and pay with me!’ the tree said. ‘I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself.
Can you give me a boat?’ said the man. ‘Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.’ So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time. Finally, the man returned after many years. ‘Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you’ the tree said. ‘No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite’ the man replied. ‘No more trunk for you to climb on’ the tree said. ‘I am too old for that now’ the man said. ‘I really cannot give you anything...the only thing left is my dying roots’ the tree said with tears. ‘I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years’ the man replied. ‘Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, Come, come sit down with me and rest.’ The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.

Do you think the boy is cruel to the tree? Isn't that how we treat family? Taking them for granted, hardly appreciating all they do for us - until all else is gone and we have no where else or anyone else to turn, but Family.

Isn't it amazing how that we only remember family when we need help? We always take out of them never giving anything back to into it, and somehow there's still always enough love to and care to get each time. This tree is a typology of family; when we are young we seem to love every bit of company from our family. When we get older, we walk away only to return when we seem to need more help or when we are in trouble. No matter what, family will always be there...learn to give back today!