Old Friends at Arcadia Garden Cafe
Today, we ate lunch at the Arcadia Garden Cafe with some of my mother-in-law’s old friends.
They had terrific lunch specials and many choices for all food preferences whether you are carnivore, herbivore or somewhere in between. However, this is not the amazing thing about the day.
The amazing thing is the relationship between these old friends and my mother-in-law.
They all grew up in the same small village in China. My mother-in-law went to junior high school with their sister. As we all enjoy a lovely lunch we are shown pictures of the village in which my mother-in-law was born and are told stories of their childhood.
It is amazing to think that even after all of these years and all of these miles they have kept in contact.
As I listen to the conversations, I cannot help but think of how often we forget to show respect, or appreciation, for the people in our lives.
We must remember to tell people that we love and appreciate them. Additionally, it is important to show them that we appreciate them. We must offer something to the relationship and not simply take. I believe that it is important that we constantly reevaluate our relationships. We do not want to be taken advantage of, nor do we want to take advantage.
I encourage all of you to show and express respect and appreciation to those near and dear to you.
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” ~William Arthur Ward
