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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Being Thankful

As Thanksgiving is just days away, I want to remind us that we should be thankful for the "time" we have and will spend with our loved ones...our families and friends.

This story is a great reminder how the time we give to others is so appreciated, but we may not know until sometime later. It's a great reminder that the gift of our time is so precious and valuable. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving...

Jack's story:

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear 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 and often no time to spend with his wife and son. 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. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't 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 side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the 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 through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....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 me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was 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," Jack said. "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 work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.. Inside he found these words engraved:

Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."


"The thing he valued most was...my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

what a wonderful story Andrea! I must have had a strong intuition you wrote that post, for me to come out and read it :)

how have you been?

punkoi said...

we have to stand up for ourselves, cheer up, whenever I'm alone i always on my computer and spent time surfin the net and check the latest software, not really a programmer, but just to divert my attention and to get bored.

Ajay said...

You touched my heart with this wonderful story as in morning, Sun's rays touchs Earth's heart..I wish you lived just around my home in that case we could share more stories ,more often...
Just lovely

lilifxt said...

hi Andrea Happy thanks Giving im really touched with that story alot we still have alot to learn in this life
wishing u all the best

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the wonderful Thanksgiving wishes, I hope you and your family have a wonderful day. I plan on making a pumpkin pie compliments of paula dean and a corn casserole :) Yay Turkey Day!!!

AC Associates said...

Hi Pearl, Soooo good to see you. Thanks for visiting. I can't take credit for Jack's Story...it was something someone once told me and it's meaning is special and so true.
Things with me are good and I hope the same holds true for you.


Ajay,
So happy you enjoyed this post. You and I have many stories and I hope we can continue to share them even though we are miles apart.
Touching one's heart is so special.
Many blessings to you.


Hi Lili!
Happy Thanskgiving. I hope you truly enjoy your day and time spent with loved ones.
Yes, we still have a lot to learn. Life is so amazing...
Blessings~


Hi Angela,
Thanks for visiting. I hope you too enjoy your day this Thanksgiving.
I never had corn casserole, but I think I would like it. Have to find a recipe.
Eat alot, share some laughs, make some memories and then take a nap!

Anonymous said...

Inspiring story... good.

Unknown said...

-صوره شيماء علي -صور من كليب مهند ورولا -
فضايح مهند -فضائح -فضيحة مهند بطل مسلسل نور -صور نور -
صور منزل نور -صور ولادة نور في مسلسل نور التركي -
نجمة مسلسل نور التركي -صور Beren Saat خطيبة يحيى -صور يحيى -مهند شاذ -
اغاني سنوات الضياع -صور مهند ونور رومنسية -صور رومانسية نور ومهند -
صور مهند بطل مسلسل نور التركي -نهاية مسلسل نور -صور اليسا -
فيديو كليب تامر حسني - هي دي -العروسة فيديو كليب ماجد 2008 -صور فاردن وكارينا -
صور مي عز الدين 2008 -نيشان مقدم العراب -صور لميس -
صور لميس ويحيى -لحن اغنيه مسلسل سنوات الضياع -نؤاس اموري ياشمعتي -
صور بنت سعودية -صور اميشا -نجمة بوليوود -
صور لميس بطلة مسلسل سنوات الضياع -

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