A little boy wrote a message on a piece of paper and handed it to his Mother. This is what it said:
For Cutting the grass: $10.00
For cleaning my room this week: $5.00
For going to the store for you: $2.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $15.00
Taking out the garbage: $5.00
For getting a good report card: $20.00
For cleaning up & raking the yard: $20.00
Extras: $22.50
TOTAL CHARGE: $100.00
Well, his mother looked at him standing there expectantly; memories flashing through her mind. So she picked up the pen, turned over the paper and this is what she wrote:
For the nine months, I carried you: $ No Charge
For all the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: $ No Charge
For all the trying times, and all the tears that you caused down the years: $ – No charge
For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew that were ahead: $ – No charge
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose, there’s no charge, son: $ – No charge
So, for all my past love: $ – No charge
and for all my future love: $ – No charge
AND when you add it all up, the full cost of real love: $ – NO CHARGE
The Mother returned the paper to her son and watched.
When he finished reading, there were great big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight up at his mother and said, “Mom, I sure do love you.” He then took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: “PAID IN FULL.”
(Original by M. Adam)
Reflection
A quote from a blog: “I never knew how much love my heart could hold until someone called me Mommy”.
We all need love but as we mature, we realise it is a very complex and changing issue!
A simple daily guide is to put others first, then watch their love grow and reap the rewards.
