WHAT HE VALUED MOST.

A young man learns what’s most important in life from the guy next door.

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!”