The Importance of Time

Jstas
Jstas Posts: 14,842
edited September 2004 in The Clubhouse
I don't usually pass along forwards but this one seemed different. Enjoy!


The Importance of 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 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.



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


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


13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.


Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so, you will certainly make someone's day.
Expert Moron Extraordinaire

You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
Post edited by Jstas on

Comments

  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited September 2004
    Good story!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • exalted512
    exalted512 Posts: 10,735
    edited September 2004
    good story
    i especially like what it didnt say
    you know...the whole "if you dont send this to 5000 people in the next two and a half minutes you will be raped by mad dogs, but if you do, your crush will ask you out today and you will live a long and happy life together"....
    -Cody
    Music is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,842
    Thinking about the two Georges we've lost here made me think of this again.

    Never seems to be enough of that time thing to go around.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
  • 👍👍👍
    Excellent post.
    'nuff said. 👍
    Sal Palooza
  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    Jstas wrote: »
    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."

    Someone chopping an onion in here?!?!?




  • Milito
    Milito Posts: 1,960
    Great story, thanks for posting it.
    Yamaha RX-A2070, Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amp, Benchmark Dac1, Bluesound NODE 2i, Audiolab 6000CDT CD Transport, Parasound Zphono USB Phono Preamp, Fluance RT85, Ortofon 2M Bronze, Polk L600's, L400, L900's, RC80i's, SVS 3000 Micro, Audioquest Interconnects and Digital Cables, Nordost Silver Shadow Digital Cable, Cullen Gold and Crossover Series Power Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 12AWG OCC Speaker Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha Analog Interconnect Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 11 OCC Custom Power Cable, Signal Power Cable, Furman PL-8C 15 Power Conditioner, Sony 65" 900F, Sony UBP-X700, Fios, Apple TV 4K, Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables.
  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,052
    Good one. One of my favorite sayings is that the best things in life don't cost money. Truly some of the best things I've had in my life is the time I spent with those that I love. While I've said it many times before, I know today how true this is for me now that it hurts so much to not be able to spend any more time with those now gone.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    Soryto reported
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,473
    The most priceless thing we waste and can never buy back, time...
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me