Thanks for your time!

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your time

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door. 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 those important to him. 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 news reel 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 home

town.

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 . 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! "

To Everyone I have sent this to, " Thanks for your time!

..

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "