“Son asked his dad: ‘Can you lend me 20 dollars?'”

by Warehouse associate Linda

The man arrived home late, weary from a long day at the office, only to find his five-year-old son waiting patiently by the door. “Daddy, may I ask you a question?” the little boy began. “Yes, of course, what is it?” the man replied, a little distractedly. “Daddy, how much do you earn in an hour?” A flash of irritation crossed the man’s face. He was too tired for this. “If you must know,” he said curtly, “I make twenty dollars an hour.” The little boy’s head dropped, his eyes fixed on the floor. He slowly looked up again and asked in a small voice, “Daddy, could I please borrow ten dollars?” The father was furious, assuming the worst. “If the only reason you’re asking that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy, then you march straight up to your room and go to bed! I work hard all day and I don’t have time for this nonsense.” The little boy quietly turned and went to his room, shutting the door softly behind him. About an hour passed, and the father began to calm down. The initial anger faded into regret. He started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that money. He rarely ever asks for cash. The man walked tentatively to the door of his son’s room and opened it a crack. “Are you asleep, son?” he whispered. “No, Daddy,” the boy replied. “I’ve been thinking,” the man said, his voice softening, “maybe I was too hard on you earlier. It’s been a long day. Here’s the ten dollars you asked for.” He extended the crumpled bill. The little boy sat straight up in bed, his face breaking into a wide, brilliant smile. “Oh, thank you, Daddy!” he exclaimed, taking the money eagerly. Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out a small stash of his own crumpled bills. Seeing that the boy already had money in his hand, the man’s anger flared up again. “Why do you want more money if you already have some?” he demanded, frustration evident in his voice. The little boy slowly and carefully counted out his money, then looked up at his father with a look of profound earnestness. “Because I didn’t have enough before, but now I do,” the little boy replied. “Daddy, I have exactly twenty dollars now.” He paused, stacking the bills neatly before him. “Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”

Sometimes, we strive to earn a living, neglecting our children’s longing for a warm home. Sometimes, the essence of love is love itself, not external material things.

Cherish your family; they are a gift from God.