'Twas the night before Valentine's, When all through the house.
Most of the people were vegging, Or clicking a mouse.
Each sat separately apart, making dents in their chair
Wondering if Domino's Delivery soon would be there.
The Children were quiet with their various IToys
The teenage girl and the pre-teen young boys.
Their birds were all Angry, their texts they did fly,
I don't even know my teenage girl's guy!
When the doorbell rang, it raised little interest,
Except for my wife who had finished her Pinterest.
Our dinner had come! All hot, fresh, and round,
But, the kids didn't rise, with a leap nor a bound.
"Let's Eat!" my wife yelled with a small bit of glee,
"I don't have to cook, I can have time just for me!"
The kids all slumped in with "great" attitudes each.
And their aforementioned attitudes weren't exactly quite "peach".
We opened the boxes and the steam then arose,
Not surprising, each kid turned up crinkled nose.
More rapid than DSL their complaints they then came,
Here's the short list of the complaints they did name:
"No olives! No peppers!
No pepperoni or sausage!
I don't want veggie pizza!
Or garlic butter sauces!
Just cheese for my pizza!
That's all that I'll eat!"
And here I was thinking,
"I got them a treat."
They picked off the toppings and grumbled and grouched.
Then went back to sitting on chairs and the couch.
They weren't showing Love! No Care! Not a whit!
If one was on fire, it's doubtful they'd spit.
Like usual the rest of the evening I dread,
But finally, thankfully, they all went to bed.
IToys still glowing with songs turned up loud,
But as a dad, I realized, I wasn't real proud.
We don't ever talk! They never do listen!
The more that I blamed, the point was I missin'?
What Love were we giving? Where did we go wrong?
Our family life mirrored a sad country song!
I sat all alone with my thoughts just a streaming.
Where did it come from? The fights? The screaming?
I thought we'd be different! The "Perfect" Family we'd seem!
But, was it a lie, a farce, a dream?
I sat and I thought. And, I thought quite a while.
Why thoughts of my family, did not make me smile.
I had had enough! Way past, "up to here"!
I went to the fridge, and cracked open a beer.
I poured it all out but started to think.
My family's just like this cheap little drink.
We're all emptied out. There's not much inside.
And it started with us, me and my bride.
Our passion had faded, and so had our love.
We pretty much fit like a foot in a glove.
We went through the motions, had nothing to give.
The thing we did share was just where we live.
I wept and I wept and had to repent.
Before my family was totally spent!
I had stayed up all night, with this weight on my heart.
My family, on my watch, will not rip apart!
They all came downstairs and I gave them this warning.
"Our family will be different! Starting this morning!"
They all looked shocked! Alarmed! Relief?
As if this good news was to good for belief!
"May our Love ever grow with Mercy and Grace.
Real Love for each other." And then, I looked in their face.
There were tears all around. We were filling back up!
A teaspoon at first, then overflowing a cup!
It's hard work to Love, but be willing to try!
The strength of your labor will not just pass by!
It will go on for ages! Generations will know!
Your legacy of Love from here on will Grow!
May God Bless you!!!
