SPECIAL QUOTES AND STORY FOR TODAY...ENJOY!!!
Today's issue made me think of an old friend from long ago and although he's passed on I will always be grateful for the lessons he shared with me.
If you are lucky to still have an old friend who helped you still around be sure to spend some time together while you can.
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Positive Thoughts for Today
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LOVE/RELATIONSHIPS:
Falling out of love is merely a matter of forgetting how charming someone is.
--Iris Murdoch
LEADERSHIP/SUCCESS:
You cannot lead anyone else farther than you have been able to go yourself.
MOTIVATION/INSPIRATION:
I am not bound to win but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed but I am bound to live up to what light I have.
--Abraham Lincoln
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Positive News Weekly
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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.'
Have a great day-and thank you for your time...
STAY POSITIVE!
If you are lucky to still have an old friend who helped you still around be sure to spend some time together while you can.
+++++++++++++++++++
Positive Thoughts for Today
+++++++++++++++++++
LOVE/RELATIONSHIPS:
Falling out of love is merely a matter of forgetting how charming someone is.
--Iris Murdoch
LEADERSHIP/SUCCESS:
You cannot lead anyone else farther than you have been able to go yourself.
MOTIVATION/INSPIRATION:
I am not bound to win but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed but I am bound to live up to what light I have.
--Abraham Lincoln
++++++++++++++++
Positive News Weekly
++++++++++++++++
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.'
Have a great day-and thank you for your time...
STAY POSITIVE!
