(the story below was a comment in “The fisherman and the businessman” by Benseddik. I liked it so much that I decided to post it in the main page)
A man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door.
“Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
“Yeah, sure, what is it?” replied the man.
“Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?
“That’s none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing?” the man said angrily.
“I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?” pleaded the little boy.
“If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour.”
“Oh,” the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, “Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?”
The father was furious. “If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. I work long, hard hours everyday and don’t have time for such childish games.”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boy’s questioning. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. 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 the little boy’s room and opened the door.
“Are you asleep son?” he asked.
“No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man. “It’s been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here’s that $10.00 you asked for.”
The little boy sat straight up, beaming. “Oh, thank you daddy!” he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills.
The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at the man.
“Why did you want more money if you already had some?” the father grumbled.
“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.
“Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?”
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…and we work and work.in all kind of stress..every day…and save money… and more money.. only to fix ourown health on a later age..just becuase we work a lot,giving no care to ourself.!!! funny!
a girl comes from school one day. she says mummy i am home…her mother say ok you can come in…but the little girl shouts again mum but İ AM HOME. the mother says ok you go to your room. hopeless the little girl came and said to the mother. – Mum just think i got lost for a week and now i came back. her mother started crying and hugged her.
awesome! I loved it. I’ll share one of my short stories, I’m completely sure It will be fun.
why don’t you have a tweet this button?
Lovely story,truly reflects present state of parenting.
Graet written…..leaving impact heart in end…really great. Tahnx for giving time for this kind of writing..
Tks for the reminder – it’s always easier said than done when you get back into the mundane life / work etc. My mum passed away with Cancer a year ago. I’m glad I took 6 months sabbatical (NO pay) leave to be with her before she passed away – i could NEVER be able to buy back the time I’ve spent with her .. only wish I had more …
We really learn from young kids. Honestly, I was touched when I read the story. I really don’t know up to now what’s more important time or money? I can relate to the story. How I wish I was given more time by my husband than his time spent working abroad.
this is so touching… :)
sometimes we dont give time to our loved ones.. we’re so busy with our work and other stuffs… but we should think of them too and give some of our time to have bonding moments with them..
Great reminder about the value of relationships!
a veces las obligaciones nos abruman y el ritmo de la vida actual nos ha quitado la atencion de lo mas importante… la familia, los hijos, el amor… pongamos mas atencion en esos detalles por que al final de la vida es lo que verdaderamente vale.
…..amigo, en el tiempo que conviví con mi hija (5 años +ó-)..siempre estuvo en mis brazos, era una parte de mi, mi luz, mi razón,…..lo era todo…….su madre lo sabia, fue su mejor arma para……………un abrazo.
really touching .. :’)
everybody should have time for their loved ones .. <3
sad and a welcome reminder to my day, to make time for loved ones in my busy day, that is what counts!
and, don’t talk on your cell or check text messages, instead smile at the cashier at the grocery store and admire the beauty of Spring.
Saudades de vcs Paulo e Cristina,bjs
i am touched…thks
Thank you for sharing. Buying time is a beautiful article. Time really is one of our most previous commodities.
It’s so sad..Sometimes we put in first place money and our jobs.We forget the most important things in the world : to be happy,to live every moment as if this moment is the last..,to spend the time with our family..
:( this story made me cry. It’s very true though, describing a lot of the family problems we’re having in this fast-moving world we live in.
Thanx Alchemist.
This story is a reflection of our relationship with the children. History impressive depth of children’s reasoning and the need for parents attention. Thanks for posting it.
unfortunately this is how life is nowadays, parents are to busy to provide that they forget what parenting is all about..
la mayoria de los padres (hombres) creen que la unica obligacion que tienen en el hogar es traer el sustento diario, y se les olvida que no todo es plata, que vale mas media hora de tiempo que dediquen a sus hijos, esto puede marcar la diferencia.
sinplemente ……atonita y pena y sin palabras
Dear Sir .. Your story really is very beautiful
I feel it,s touching the endocardial of my heart
I hope that my children- in future- wi,, be like the child in this story .
oh no….it brings tears in my eyes. I have a 5 year old daughter and to her the best gift is maa and baba( that means mom and dad) is playing with her with her toys.
This story touches me each time I read it… aww so cute and so sad at the same time…..
hey im really get inspired of this lesson im also a working women n have a 4 yrs old son… Thnx Mr. Paulo Coelho.
Relevent to ma life. how much i miss my daughter 7weeks away from now..
soooo touching….. all parents should spend more time with their kids…money is not every thing in this universe
Its nice to have a job where you can make time for your family. The little boy wanted the money to have time with his Father and now a days both parents work. Stores and many places are open on Sunday. Its like the world is going 24/7. Surely, there will moments and opportunities that didn’t happen and children grow so quick. In the wink of an eye the babies are all grown up.
Thank you for everything, Mr Coelho. You’ve truly made me the person I am now I’m only 16 years old and maybe you think I’m to young to understand everything you write due to the lack of experience, but I’ve certainly learned a lot from you. You are a very wise man and you’ve helped me in moments I felt I was all alone. You made me discover God, you made see beauty in each person I meet. You made me see the person I really was. In a time I really needed a model in life, you were there through your books. I hope you read the comments and this reaches you .Also sorry if my English is not so perfect.
P.S About this story…It’s amazing and it really moved me.Still, I wish I had a father…even if he was busy.
Mona, don’t worry … I dindn’t have father to grow up with. I didn’t even talk or see him in my life and about two months he died. It’s hard and hurtuful not to grow with a parent. I’m 22 and still need kind and affection of a father Even If I have a mentor that is like my dad. But still a real_ or blood dad to take care of me. And give me warm, a lot of kisses and hugs that I didn’t have from him. But I thanked God that I didn’t grow up witth him. He waas agressive.
- I send you a big hug and God bless you and that’s awesome that you are learning too fast about in short age ;)
when u have god mona ,you don’t need anyone else…we all support you and beside you..
Excelente lección Sr. Coelho, gracias, muy buena para reflexionar sobre el verdadero sentido de la vida como padres y amigos, el trabajo es indispensable para ganarnos el pan de cada día, pero también el tiempo de calidad compartido con la familia es vital. Las exigencias económicas cada vez son mayores por el consumismo prevalente de nuestra cultura: “tienes más-eres más”, cuando que no tiene que ser así. Hay personas en el mundo que son felices con tan poco, mientras que otras teniendolo todo y queriendo cada día más no lo son.
very touching story.narrates the mans hunt for money>forgets to spare time for dear ones
Thank you Mr Paulo,for the little lesson that means alots.
Thank you it is very nice story
Esta historia es muy hermosa pues nos dedicamos a trabajar y nosolvidamos el verdadero valor q tienen nuestros hijos o familiares. El dienro se hace todos los dias pero el tiempo q le podamos dedicar a nuestros hijos es oro pues luego se van de nuestras manos y nospreguntamos pq no nos viene a ver y asi es la vida un dia estuvieron todo el tiempo con nosotros y no le dimos importancias y ahora q nos quedamos solos necesitamos de estar con ellos para q solo nos digan hola papa o mama como estan.Cuidemos de nuestra familia son el mayor tesoro q Dios nos ha ofrecido .Ellos son la felicidad ,la paz ,la ternura ,y el dinero eso solo es diner.
Los amo en el Senor bendiciones!
Sometimes, we forget the most important in life: We work to live, we don’t live to work. Thanks Mr. Coelho for such a beautiful message. God Bless you!
John Lennon dijo; “la vida es lo que esta pasando mientras nosotros estamos ocupados haciendo otros planes”.
ESTAS PALABRAS NOS AYUDAN A REFLEXIONAR SOBRE EL VERDADERO SENTIDO DE LA VIDA.
Yo he perdido 3 años lejos de mi hija,y una parte de la mia solo por venir a trabajar a otro pais , y ganar un poco mas de dinero y darles un hogar digno donde crecer,aunq no lo querramos aceptar en esta vida todo gira al rededor del dinero , lastimosamente, ya q si carecemos de heyo no podriamos comer, vestirnos, estudiar, curar nuestras enfermedades, necesitamos del asqueroso dinero, Claro para muchos no sera suficiente lo q tienen, pero para otros solo necesitamos lo suficiente para vivir
Excelente parábola…as crianças sempre com esta capacidade imensa de nos fazer pensar.
Num mundo ideal seriamos nós adultos, a passarmos os ensinamentos…mas neste mundo “real” onde nos encontramos tão afastados da nossa verdadeira essência, estes pequenos mestres é que estão incumbidos para o fazer…
Não viessem eles já com esse propósito!!
hi
that was nice
i translate it and put it on my own weblog
tnx
WOW……..Y PENSAR QUE A MUCHOS NOS SUCEDE ESO IGNORAR A NUESTROS HIJOS Y PENSAR QUE ELLOS SOLO NECESITANPOR LO MENOS UN RATITO DE NUESTRO TIEMPO ……..PAULO TU ERES GRANDE Y SIEMPRE PUBLICAS COSAS QUE ME LLEGAN EL PRECISO MOMENTO GRACIAS POR TODO Y BENDICIONES.
oui bien sur cest vrai .. la vie sera tres complique
et nous ne avons pas de temps pour nous memes ou pour nos
familles et pour nos amis
thank you dear paulo .. et bon courage
oo v cute n innocent story…truely inspirational…
very touchy.Really we adults are so busy that we never think how much time our kids need fm us.
a veces por ir a juntar más dinero y tener más cosas para nuestros hijos nos olvidamos de lo indispensable, “Estar con ellos”.
Excelente texto.
love this story so much , Mr. Paulo Coelho. You truly2 inspired me
so beautifull !! make money to make money and make money again and… forget the purpose of life !!
Thank you for this beautifull story Mr Paulo Coelho, I like so much your sharing’s blog
Dany
a lot to think about…
Exelente moraleja! cuanta falta nos hace que nos bajen a tierra de vez en cuando!
It’s definitely right. In my opinion most of us working so hard all of the day & sometimes 7 days a week, just for making more money, so we have a lot of money right now, did we ever worry about our relationship with our family as well as money?
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