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Jack In The Box 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 housewas 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?" his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet... thanks for your time!" That which you have will one day fade into dust, but that which you do for others will live on. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." TIME FLIES by Joe Mazzella It seems that sometime in the last few years I blinked and my kids grew up on me. Where my tiny, little children used to be there now stands a fifteen year old boy and a thirteen year old girl both almost as tall as I am. Even my youngest is now ten and getting larger everyday. I guess that it seems like this because I can still remember vividly every bit of their young lives. I can remember holding each of them as a newborn baby in my arms. I can remember the first steps that each one took and the delighted smiles on their faces as they walked. I can remember children's games like tag and hide and seek. I can remember reading to them while they sat on my lap. I can remember their first bikes and teaching them to ride. I can remember making snowmen, snow angels, and having snowball fights in the Winter. I can remember swimming at the pool and playing at the playground in the Summer. I can remember raking huge piles of leaves and jumping joyfully into them in the Fall. I can also remember their problems, frustrations, illnesses, and injuries. I can look back on it all and remember it all. And if asked if I would do it all over again, I would answer: "Yes I would, but I would enjoy it even more." This time we get here on Earth doesn't last long. The moments, days, and years fly by so fast. There is barely enough time to learn to love the way God meant for us to before it is over. Make a promise to yourself now then to enjoy it even more. Don't get so caught up in your day to day life that you forget what is essential. Take every moment you are given and fill it with love, joy, goodness, and God. Grab every chance you can to share that love and joy with those around you. Use every second you have to bring peace and happiness into your soul and to give your delight, goodness, and oneness with God to the world. Remember time flies, but love is forever.
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