Dear friends – as Christmas is not too far ahead, I’d like to tell you a story this time on our blog, instead of writing about business – a different Christmas story:
Ian came home from work late in the week before Christmas, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the front door. “Daddy, may I ask you a question?” said Jack. “Yep sure, what is it?” replied Ian rather brusquely. “Daddy, how much do you earn in an hour?” “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” Ian responded angrily. “I just need to know. Please tell me” pleaded Jack “If you must know, Jack, I make $25 an hour,” answered his father. “Oh”, Jack replied, with his head down. “Daddy, may I please borrow $10?” added Jack nervously.
Ian became furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy for Christmas 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”. Jack quietly went to his room and shut the door.
Ian sat down and started to get even angrier about Jack’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, Ian started to think. Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00 and he really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of his son’s room and opened the door.
“Are you asleep, son?” Ian asked quietly. “No, daddy, I’m awake”, replied Jack. “I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said Ian. Here’s the $10.00 you asked for.”
Jack sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you daddy,” he cried. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up notes. Ian 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 with his large brown eyes.
“Why do you want more money if you already have some?” Ian grumbled. “Because I didn’t have enough, nut now I do,” the little boy replied. “Daddy, I have $25.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early on Christmas Eve so I can have dinner with you.”
Ian was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.
This story, my friends, is just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts………………. – I wish you a merry, joyful Christmas – hopefully, see you again in 2017, Renate
