This story isn’t mine. It’s something I found in my inbox that I hope you find is worth your time spent reading it. Reblog if you can.
A young man learns what’s most important in life from the guy next door.
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
“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 the ones I love”, 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.
To everyone who reads this “Thanks for your time!”
Music heals. I’ve been through a lot in my life, and worked through pain that can go alongside difficulty. And I think that’s a part of life: we’re all going to experience pain and loss to one degree or another in our lives. What makes us who we are is how we work through the pain the best way we know how. If we’re lucky we become stronger because of it. Bob Marley wasn’t lying when he said “the one thing about music, is when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
This post is about artists who have spoken for friends or family, or have written a song directly related to their own grief, pain or anger.
A stunning song about a friend of his who miscarried her baby after four months. Ed turned a heartwrenching tragedy into something beautiful.
ERIC CLAPTON - TEARS FROM HEAVEN
The ultimate when it comes to an artist trying to make sense of their own pain. Eric Clapton wrote this song to work through the pain of loosing his child; his son Conor fell from the 53rd floor of the apartment of his mother’s friend. He arrived very soon after it happened and was obviously experiencing levels of anguish some of us may or may not have experience - or have yet to experience - in our lives.
DIXIE CHICKS - NOT READY TO MAKE NICE.
This song is completely righteous, loud, and angry. The kind of pain the Dixie Chicks are working through is anger; these ladies said while on stage that they didn’t support the war, and the president for sending troops off to what they believed to be a senseless war. (This IN NO WAY) was disrespecting the troops; they simply used their concert to express their opinions on politics and their president. People told them to shut up, that they should keep their opinions to themselves, told their children to hate these ladies, threatened their lives. All of this, for using their voice. In fact, they were told specifically to “shut up and sing,”so in true Dixie Chick form, they did.
This song -written by Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Walter Afanasieff (record producer, Singer/Songwriter) - is about losing a loved one and meeting them once again in heaven. Specifically, Mariah and the guys in the band Boys Boyz II Men wrote it about people who they had lost in their lives, and also to people who were struggling with AIDS, and those who had succumbed to the virus. It’s such a a stunning song, and it can mean anything you want.
WARREN ZEVRON - KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART
Zevron was in a compelling and painful position: he knew he was dying. This song served as his goodbye to his loved ones, and to the world. This song was released on his final album called The Wind (2003). It showed that he was ready to go, and he said everything he wanted to say. Kind of makes me choked up thinking about it. None of us knows when we’re going to go, I’d like to think that when It’s my time to go I said everything I wanted to say to everyone, did everything I felt needed to be done. I challenge you to not feel a knot in your throat over for this one…
I couldn’t make a post like this without including The Beatles. This song is about love and loss, and the emotional, mental, and inner change and turmoil you go through. It’s so beautiful and heartbreaking when you listen to it, I just don’t have much to say that would do it justice. So just listen.
TUPAC- DEATH AROUND THE CORNER
To me, Tupac was a King. He was one of those rappers who measured every word and made sure they had purpose. He was extremely intelligent, well spoken, and knew how the opportunities he had in his life had an effect on who he came to be. Tupac kind of saw himself as prophetic; he believed his own death was coming (and sadly he was right). And I see this song as him kind of taking control of what he knew was coming, and taking away the power from who would be the one to kill him. Working through the fear, the paranoia, what he’s seen in his life, and making peace with what was to come. I don’t think there will ever be any other rapper who is anything like him.
