One day a father had just come home from work, and his son came to him and asked, “Daddy, may I ask you a question?”

Father said, “Yeah, sure, what it is?”

The boy asked, “Dad, how much do you make an hour?”

The father got a bit upset and said, “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?”

Son said, “I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”

So, the father told him, “I make $50 per hour.”

“Oh”, the little boy replied, with his head down. Then, looking up, he said, “Dad, may I please borrow $20?”

The father furiously answered and said, “If the only reason you asked about my pay is so that you could borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then march yourself up to your room and go to bed. Think why you are being so selfish. I work hard every day and do not like this childish behavior!”

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 $20; and, he really doesn’t ask for money very often!”

The man went to the little boy’s room and opened the door. “Are you sleeping, son?” he asked.

“No Daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.

“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man. “It was a long work day, and I took my aggravation out on you. Here’s the $20 you asked for.”

The little boy sat straight up with a big smile and exclaimed, “Oh, thank you, Daddy!”

Then, reaching under his pillow the pulled out some crumpled dollar bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, began to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.

“Why did you want money if you already had 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 dumbstruck.

He was home for dinner and time with his son the next day, and the next day, and the next day…..

- Author Unknown

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MORAL: It’s just a short reminder to all who are working so hard in life! Do not let time slip through your fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to you, those close to your heart. If you were to die tomorrow, the company that you are working for could easily replace you in a matter of days. But, the family and friends you would leave behind would feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Don’t pour more more of yourself into work than you give to your family and in service to your Lord.

SLOW DOWN! Don’t let your to-do list own your heart! Be happy with the amount you accomplish each day despite the demand of tasks remaining, and be sure to spend quality time with those who mean the most to you.

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God has not called us to rush and hurry and hustle through our days. He’s called us to be still, in so many words, in several Scriptures:

• Psalm 23 promises that He will lead us beside still waters and faithfully restore our souls.

• Psalm 46:10 implores us to be still and to know that He alone is God.

• Exodus 14:14 declares that if we are still, He will fight for us.

• 1 Samuel 12:16 bids us to stand still so we can see what He’s going to do.

• Psalm 37:7 reminds us to be still and wait patiently for Him, even as others seem to be succeeding and moving ahead of us.

• Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God!”

• Psalm 62:5-6 “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.”

• Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

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“Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.” -Michael J. Fox

“Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.” - Unknown

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If you have a story that you think might bless others, I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.

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