time

split50 sent this to me in an email

i like this kind of stuff


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 stop ped 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 exac tly
> > 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 bo x. 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 compl iments 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.