Some time ago, I came across a story of Jack Bennett and Harold Belser. It spoke to me. Let me share the story with you.
In the rush of his busy life, Jack Bennett had little time. His career and business dominated his life.
One day, his mother called to announce the funeral of an old neighbor: "Jack, Mr. Harold Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday."
Jack was sad and he responded: "Mr. Belser spent a lot of time with me at his house, teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral.”
Old Harold’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
That night, Jack and his mom stopped by to see the old house next door just one more time. The house was exactly as Jack remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture. Every piece of furniture.
Then, Jack stopped suddenly.
"It’s gone, mum" he said.
“What’s gone?”, mum asked.
“The box is gone. 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 said was that it contained ‘the thing I value most’. Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him!”
Jack looked around but indeed the gold box is no longer there.
It had been about two weeks since Harold 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.
"From Mr. Harold Belser," it read. Jack took the package out to his car and ripped it open. There inside was the gold box!
With great anticipation, Jack read the note that came with it: "Upon my death, please forward this package and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life."
A small key was taped to the letter. Tears filled his eyes as Jack carefully unlocked the gold box. There, inside the box, he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
And inside the cover, he found these words engraved: "Jack, thanks for our time! Harold Belser."
The memories of yesteryears came crashing through, and Jack couldn’t hold back his tears.
"The thing he valued most … was … my time," Jack realized.
Jack held the pocket 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 family," Jack said. "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
Time. It’s precious!
Do you value it? Get this. TIME is your most valuable asset.
Have a blessed pilgrimage ahead!