In Looking at Our Loved Ones

“If the stars came out only once a year,” someone once wrote, “the whole world would go out and look at them.” But since they can be seen so easily and so often, we become accustomed to them and let them seem quite commonplace. Likewise, if we saw our loved ones less, or saw them not at all, we should soon learn some new lessons in appreciation of what is most prized and important.

It is true that we sometimes seem to take for granted those we love and live with, and it would be well sometimes to step aside and see them as if we’d never seen them before—or to see them as if we’d never see them again. Blessedly we shall. But still it is wise and wonderful to appreciate people in the present, to appreciate those on whom we have the closest claims, and not reserve our best appearance and performance or our most polite approach for those outside the family circle.

Gratitude and graciousness, consideration and courtesy should have their place at home. There is, in fact, as some have found, a kind of love and courtesy and consideration that can come into a home and make its drudgery no drudgery at all, and make the daily round of routine duties seem to e a blessed service. This can be so when appreciation is present—not only a silent appreciation, but both an inner and outer evidence of it—an appreciation that is shown and said.

But we leave some things, too many things, too long un-shown, unsaid—and assume that they can wait—that they will be understood without any outward evidence. In a sense, we assume that the “stars” will always be there—but there are times when we should look at them (and at our loved ones) with seeing eyes and understanding hearts, and with the blessed power of appreciation.

One of the real tests of character is the test of courtesy and consideration toward those we love and live with—and the generous heart that says and shows them how wonderfully much they mean.

Of all there is to belong to, there is no finer thing to belong to than an honorable and affectionate family—and it will be so, always and forever.