This was sent to me by a friend that I met via Fan Fiction.net. I thought I
should share it with you.
Nicki


>
> >> 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 filled 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.
> >> >
> >> > 14. 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 brighten someone's day and might change their
> >> > perspective on life...for the better.
> >> >
> >> > To everyone I sent this to "Thanks for your time"



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