A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.
Son: Daddy, may I ask you a question?
Dad: Yeah sure, what it is?…
Son: Daddy, how much do you make an hour?
Dad: That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing? the dad responded angrily.
Son: I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?
Dad: If you must know, I make $50 an hour.
Son: Oh, the little boy replied, with his head down.
Son: Daddy, may I please borrow $25?
The father was furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don’t work hard every day for such childish frivolities.”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.
Dad: Are you asleep, son?
Son: No daddy, I’m awake.
Dad: I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier. It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $25 you asked for…
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you, daddy!” he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.
The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The little boy slowly counted out his money and then looked up at his father.
“Why do you want more money if you already have some?” the father grumbled.
“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.
“Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and begged for his forgiveness.
One of the things we regret on our death bed is working too hard and not spending enough time on those things that actually mean something.
This story is an important reminder for everyone who works too hard. If we die tomorrow, the company we work for will replace us within a few days — but the family and friends we leave behind will feel the emptiness and loss for the rest of their lives.
Take care of each other as much as you can before it’s too late — and share this important reminder with everyone you know, so they also remember to appreciate what’s truly important in life!