Can I Borrow $100?

Neil and Lydia,

My hope is that one day you will both realize how
precious time is and that the time that I spent going to
your practices, games, performances, the time we shared,
is all that matters.

Love,
Dad

Can I Borrow $100?

By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (477.2)

Tim was disappointed that his father didn't attend the
last soccer game of the season, but he wasn't
surprised. Tim was a mature 10-year old and he
understood that lots of clients depended on his dad, a
lawyer, who had to work most nights and weekends.
Still, it made him sad, especially since this year he
won the league's most valuable player award.

One evening Tim got up the nerve to interrupt his
father's work at home to ask him how much lawyers make
per hour. His father was annoyed and gruffly answered,
"They pay me $300 an hour."

Tim gulped and said, "Wow, that's a lot. Would you
lend me $100?"

"Of course not," his father barked. "Please, let me
work."

Later, the father felt guilty and went to Tim's room
where he found him sobbing. "Son," he said, "I'm
sorry. If you need some money, of course I'll lend it
to you. But can I ask why?"

Tim said, "Daddy, I know your time is really worth a
lot and with the $200 I've already saved, I'll have
enough. Can I buy an hour so you can come to the
awards banquet on Friday?"

It hit his father like a punch to the heart. He
realized his son needed him more than his clients did.
He needed to be there for his son more than he needed
money or career accolades. He hugged him and said,
"I'm so proud of you, nothing could keep me away."

Lots of parents are stretched to their limit trying to
balance business demands and family needs. It's always
a matter of priorities. But if we don't arrange our
lives to be there for our children, they will regret
it--and after it's too late, so will we.

This story is derived and adapted from one that was
circulated on the Internet without attribution. The
original source is unknown.