Sunday, April 08, 2007
I found this story rather quite meaningful while checking my email.A young man learns what's
most important in life from the guy next door.
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man.
College, girls, career & life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved across the country in pursuit of his dreams.
There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past & often
no time to
family.
He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him,
"Mr. Belser died last night.The funeral is Wednesday."
Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. Its been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago" , Jack said.
"Well, he didnt forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask, how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over & his sideof the fence& as he put it,"
Mom told him.
"&I loved that old househe lived in," Jack said .
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr.Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man to influence in your life," she said.
He's the one who taught me carpentry" he said.
"Iwouldn't& be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lotof time& teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll bethere for the funeral", Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word.
Jack caught the next flight to hishometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own & most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack & his Mom stopped by to seethe old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap throughspace and time.
The house was exactly as heremembered.Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece offurniture....Jack stopped suddenly."What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked."The box is gone", he said."What box?", Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell mewas the thing I value most," Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about thehousewas exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box.He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I"ll never know what was so valuable to him," Jacksaid.
"I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom".
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died.
Returning home from workone day, Jack discovered a note in his mailbox.
"Signature required on aackage. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the nextthree days," the note read.Early the next day Jack retrieved the package.
The small box wasold & looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago.The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caughthis attention." Mr Harold Belser" it read.Jack took the box out to his car & ripped open the package.
There inside was the gold box & an envelope. Jack's hands shook ashe read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward thisbox and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in mylife.A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, astears filling his eyes ! Jack carefully unlocked the box. There insidehe found a beautiful gold pocket watch.Running his fingers slowlyover the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover .
Inside he found thesewords engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! "The thing he valued most...was...my time.Jack held the watch for a few minutes then called his office & cleared his appointments for the next 2days."Why?" Janet, his assistant asked."I need some time to spend with my son,"he said. "Oh, bythe way, Janet...thanks for your time!"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take butby the moments that take our breath awayThink about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much that they would diefor you.2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.3. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don'tlike you.4. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.5. You mean the world to someone.6. If not for you, someone may not be living.7. You are special & unique.8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, youprobably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, &wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still comefrom it.10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look; youmost likely turned your back on the world.11. Someone that you don't even know exists,loves you.12. Always remember the complimentd you received. Forget about the ruderemarks.13. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.Blogged
@ 7:04:00 PM
Don't let me go -
♡26231138.
