I was shared this short but very inspiring story today which really gets you thinking.
Goethe once said: “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.”
In order to achieve that you need to give them one essential part of your life: Time!
That story really made me think, do I really give my kids enough quality time? Or am I just there… well here is the story:
SON: “Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
DAD: “Yeah sure, what is it?”
SON: “How much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?”
SON: “I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “If you must know, I make $100 an hour.”
SON: “Daddy, may I please borrow $50?”
The father was furious and said, “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 work hard every day for my money.”
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 $ 50 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 and asked his son if he was awake and the boy replied that he was.
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 $50 you asked for.”
The little boy sat straight up, smiling, and said, “Oh, thank you daddy!”
Then, reaching under his pillow the boy pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. As the little boy slowly counted out his money, his father asked, “Why do you want more money if you already have some?”
SON: “Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do. Daddy, I have $100 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 he begged for his forgiveness.
Interesting way to make you think about your priorities in life huh? Like they say, don’t forget the reason you are earning money in the first place. Time is the most precious commodity you have to give to those that are close to you.
