Mahler's Monday Morning Motivator # 91 - Thanks for your time

[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 91 – Thanks for your time

Good morning, guys.

This morning I heard a blurb on the news about the new buzz-words in the business world. It seems we no longer use the word “failure” but now call it “deferred success.”
Perhaps when I stop laughing I will take the time to comment on this in a future Motivator. For this week, I thought I would share with you a story that a friend sent me. I am sure it has made the rounds on the Internet and you may have read it before, but it seems so appropriate to this week. Enjoy.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME

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 'hisside 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 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 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?" 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,"

Have a great week and a blessed holiday and, by the way, thanks for your time.
= = = = = = = = = =

In Fitness & Friendship,
Mahler

[Tin Man]

Thanks Mahler,

After another "busy" weekend of herding the family here and there and doing "things" around the house I needed this reminder.

[Terry Monk]

Wow. I'm almost speechless. That was a really great story. I need to go home and play with my kids tonight.........

Thank you John.

[Bond007]

I need to make some phone calls today. Crap, I'm practically weeping like a baby!! UGH!

[ODB]

Damnit! Quit doing that!

Thanks M! I appreciate the time you take every week to do this.

Joe
Happy Thanksgiving!

[OldGuy]

Thanks for your time, John.

Have a great holiday.

[FishrCutB8]

Thank you, John.

[kuri]

Thanks Mahler,

Great words to remember this holiday season.

[RacerBill]

Dammit, you very nearly made me cry at work... I'd never have lived that down. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Thanks for the great story, and for taking your time to share it with us.

[ninja]

Egads!

Thanks John.

[hard_rox]

good one, John. Sappy, but it gets the point across very nicely.

[K-Court]

Thank you, John. It is indeed a good reminder of what's important in life.

[gregl515]

Inspired me to call my parents. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[ichbinba]

thanks! great message once again!

[Kevin T.]

As always, a great post Mr. Mahler.

[nyguy]

I enjoy your stories, Mahler. Keep 'em coming.

[jj]

John, that gave me chill bumps. I guess I have lost loved ones that I wish I had more time for. Thanks for the reminder.

JJ

[eastcoastsurfer]

I wish I had had these types of reminders years ago. Problem is that I've always been the type to learn the hardway so they may not have made a difference. Thanks for another great MMMM.