How much is your time worth, daddy?

My wonderful and beautiful mother sent me an email today that I feel all parents should read. Not just daddy's, though we typically are the ones that do this.

Can I Borrow $25?

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'
DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.
SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'
DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the man said angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'
DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'
SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed.

Think about why you are being so selfish.

I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions.

How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

'Are you asleep, son?' He asked.

'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.

'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you.

Here's the $25 you asked for.'

The little boy sat straight up, smiling.

'Oh, thank you daddy!' He yelled.

Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.

The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the father grumbled.

Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied.

'Daddy, I have $50 now.

Can I buy an hour of your time?

Please come home early tomorrow.

I would like to have dinner with you.'

The father was crushed.

He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life.

We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love.

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours.

But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

From my house to yours

Now tell me, how much is your time worth? There are many days when I am at work and wish for just another hour of peace. I sometimes dread going in the front door to a mad house of screaming and fighting kids. However, when I get home, their little faces all brighten up and they come running to me wanting hugs and kisses and to tell me about their day. They know that they can count on their daddy whenever they need me. (True, after about a half hour of daddy time, they are ready to start screaming and fighting again. I know though short, that half hour could be the last thing they remember about me.)

Lord, I want to be just like you....Cause they want to be just like me

The other day, I was driving home from work and started singing a song. I have included the words to the song her. Understand, that now that I have triplet girls, the words have changed just a bit. But the meaning is still very much the same.

He climbs in my lap for a goodnight hug
He calls me Dad and I call him Bub
With his faded old pillow and a bear named Pooh
He snuggles up close and says, "I want to be like you"
I tuck him in bed and I kiss him goodnight
Trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light
And I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see
He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me

Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me

Got to admit I've got so far to go
Make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know
Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try
With all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right
But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best
Being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness
'Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees
And the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me
Right now from where he stands I may seem mighty tall
But it's only 'cause I'm learning from the best Father of them all

Where am I going with this, you may ask. Too many days, I wonder how my girls see me. What are they learning every day when I yell, when I scream, when I spank, when I hug, when I kiss, when sing, when I play. What kind of man are they seeing in me? Am I the kind of example that I want them to grow up to be like? I hope so. Each day I try, but each day I feel like I fail. Because of that, I feel that I am doing a good job. Because, I know that because I care so much of how I am, shows me that I am doing the best I can. I am heading in the right direction and as long as I keep looking toward the SON, I will be the best dad I can be.

I hope that this isn't coming out too sappy, but that is who I am.