Got this email from my nephew, fits right in with the letter to a Marine from Cowpuncher.
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 'his
>side 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,"
>
> Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
>
> 1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would
>die for you.
>
> 2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
>
> 3 A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they
>don't like you.
>
> 4 Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
>
> 5. You mean the world to someone.
>
> 6. If not for you, someone may not be living.
>
> 7. You are special and unique.
>
> 8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want,
>you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and
>wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
>
> 9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can
>still come from it.
>
> 10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a
>look:
>you most likely
>turned your back on the world.
>
> 11. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
>
> 12. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about
>the rude remarks.
>
> 13.. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel
>much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
>
> 14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know
>that they are great.
>
> Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so,
>you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change their
>perspective on life...for the better.
>
> To everyone I sent this to "
> 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 'his
>side 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,"
>
> Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
>
> 1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would
>die for you.
>
> 2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
>
> 3 A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they
>don't like you.
>
> 4 Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
>
> 5. You mean the world to someone.
>
> 6. If not for you, someone may not be living.
>
> 7. You are special and unique.
>
> 8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want,
>you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and
>wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
>
> 9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can
>still come from it.
>
> 10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a
>look:
>you most likely
>turned your back on the world.
>
> 11. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
>
> 12. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about
>the rude remarks.
>
> 13.. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel
>much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
>
> 14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know
>that they are great.
>
> Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so,
>you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change their
>perspective on life...for the better.
>
> To everyone I sent this to "
> Thanks for your time"
>