Pearls&Grit

Today, as I stare out the window at the trees waving grandly in the blue sky, the little flag on the kiddie bike trailer next door flapping furiously, I am actually kind of at a loss of what to write. I want to write something witty, something deep, something that will touch somebody for the better. But I’m coming up empty.

I have had such a tremendously busy last few weeks and it almost feels like I may be doing something terribly wrong, sitting down at the laptop for a few seconds to make sure my little blog is still alive. (It is…barely…!)

So what I really want to do is share a story that was sent to me quite a few years ago by someone that meant a lot to me. More and more in the last few months, I’ve realized to an even deeper extent how important “TIME” is.

Bear with me, it is a little long…but it is worth your time!

(I am not sure who to attribute the story too…please let me know if you know!)

“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.  It read, “Mr. Harold  Belser”.  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,”

Think  about this. You may not realize it, but it’s 100% true.

1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for 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’t like 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 and unique.

8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won’t get it, but if you trust God to do what’s best, and 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 come from it.

10. When you think the world has turned its back on  you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

11. Someone that you don’t even know exists loves  you.

12. Always remember the compliments you received.  Forget about the rude remarks.

13 . Always tell someone how you feel about them;  you will feel much better when they know and you’ll both be happy.

This week, make the most of the time you have with the people you value the most. Take a moment and look at a caterpillar with your three-year old. Stop and notice how curly your husband’s beard is and how much you love that. That little old lady that is constantly waving at you? Maybe stop and strike up a little conversation.

This week is yours. Fill those hours with value!