An Hour of Your Time

I have seen the following story in various places, but I do not know the original author:

"Daddy, how much do you make an hour?" With a timid voice and idolizing eyes, the little boy greeted his father as he returned from work.

Giving his boy a glaring look, the father said, "Look, Son, don't bother me now, I'm tired."

"But, Daddy, just tell me please! How much do you make an hour?" the boy insisted.

The father, finally giving up, replied, "Ten dollars an hour."

"Okay, Daddy. Could you loan me five dollars?" the boy asked.

Showing his restlessness and positively disturbed, the father yelled, "So that was the reason you asked how much I earn, right? Go to sleep and don't bother me anymore!"

It was already dark and the father was meditating on what he said and was feeling guilty. Maybe, he thought, his son wanted to buy something. Finally, trying to ease his mind, the father went to his son's room. "Are you asleep, son?" asked the father.

"No, Daddy. Why?" replied the boy, partially asleep.

"Here's the money asked for earlier," the father said.

"Thanks, Daddy!" rejoiced the son, while putting his hand under his pillow and removing some money. "Now I have enough! Now I have ten dollars! Daddy, could you sell me one hour of your time?"

As a father, this story hits me hard. It is so easy to get involved in providing for the family and doing "good things" for others that my family ends up being neglected. We sometimes think that what will make our children happiest is to have more "things", when what they really want, what they desire more than anything else, is just a bit of our time.

"Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father." (Proverbs 17:6)

Heavenly Father, as we stand aware of your constant presence, help us to learn from you to be the kind of fathers we should be to our children. Help us to never grow so "busy" that we fail to have time for those you have entrusted into our special care. In Jesus‘ name, amen.