Adam looked disheartened,
and soon Alphie walked over and comforted him.
 
" Mom's crying again "
he said.
 
" I know "
Alphie replied softly
 
" We've lost a lot of friends,
Mom and Dad say a lot of people are not our friends anymore."
Adam continued.
 
" I know "
Alphie replied
" But, I promise will not leave you,
I will never stop being your friend,
and your Mom and Dad know that "
 
Adam told Josh, and Josh told Paige and they came in to hug me.
 
" Don't worry, Mommy "
Josh smiled
" Alphie promised he would never stop being our friend "

I realized my priorities at that moment truly were out of order.
Our children had reminded me of
a truly important gift that was right there at that moment.
 
Instead of mourning the loss of what we didn't have,
I had been remiss in being grateful for what we did.

Gratitude,
like love,
is never a
dependable international emotion.

Joseph W. Alsop, Jr. (1910 - 1989)
US journalist, author

Copyright © 2004 Maryanne & Mark F. Chisholm. All rights reserved.