Today I’m going to share a story about the father who had no time for his family. Even though the good father wanted to spend maximum time with his family, he was always caught up in other things.
I just thought it had been long since I shared a story, and this seemed just apt. I had read a similar story long back, which made me realize the importance of setting priorities in my life.
You all know how valuable time is for each one of us. More so, the precious time that every father and mother need to spend with their children.
Though the post says – the father, but it’s also meant for mothers who are working and aren’t able to devote enough time for their family and children.
Nevertheless, even those who aren’t parents can relate to the post, especially if they have/had parents who spend or aren’t/weren’t able to spend time with them.
My intention isn’t to make you feel bad or guilty, but to understand the importance of how quality family time makes a difference in everybody’s lives, and to realize that time flies!
So, without delay, here is a story about the father who wanted to spend quality time with his family, but somehow always landed with no time in hand.
“That is the thankless position of the father in the family – the provider for all, and the enemy of all.” ~ J. August Strindberg
Story About The Father With No Time
Once there was a hardworking father who delivered newspapers as a living to support his family. He had a happy family that consisted of his wife and two kids.
The fathers used to spend the mornings doing his delivering work, while in the evenings he devoted the time attending classes.
He wanted to be a better parent, and did his best to educate and improve himself so that he could one day find a better paying job.
It was only on Sundays, that the busy father ate a meal together with his family, while the rest of the days he worked and studied hard.
The good father did this to provide his family with the best that money could buy. He wanted to give them a life they loved.
Very soon his family started complaining that he wasn’t spending enough time with them. The father reasoned that he was doing all this for their happiness.
But deep in his heart, he too yearned to bond with his family and spend those precious moments of togetherness with them.
Finally, the day came when the examination results were declared. To the father’s surprise, he had passed with distinction, and was soon offered a good job as a supervisor that paid well!
It was almost like a dream come true for the father and his family. He could now afford to provide his family with life’s big and small pleasures like good food, clothes, a house, and vacations abroad too.
However, the family still didn’t get to see the busy father for most of the week. He continued working hard with the hope to be promoted to the position of a manager.
In fact, to make himself a worthy enough candidate, the father even enrolled for another course. He was once more studying alongside working.
Once again, the family complained that the father wasn’t spending enough time with them, and he repeated that it was all for them. And all through, he kept yearning to spend more time with his family.
The father’s hard work paid off, and he was promoted to the position of manager, and was paid well. Happily, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her house work.
The father also felt that the three-bedroom flat was small, and it would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the comfort of a larger bungalow.
The good father knew from his past experiences that his hard work had always paid off earlier. So, he thought of continuing his studies with an aim for higher promotions. This meant more money.
Slowly, the family also got to see less and less of him. Now, sometimes the hard-working father had to even overwork on Sundays to entertain the clients. However, he too kept yearning to spend more time with them.
Again, when his family would complain that they don’t get to spend time with him, the good father would say he’s earning for them.
As expected, the father’s hard work paid off and he purchased a beautiful bungalow overlooking the sea.
On the very first Sunday evening at their new home, the father declared that he had decided not to take any more courses, nor run after promotions.
He too wanted to relax and devote more time to his family. Sadly, the father did not wake up the next day.
“Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.” ~ Ruth E. Renkel
Moral Of The Story
There is just one message that goes out loud and clear from the story. Spend time with your loved ones, for tomorrow may never come. It never came for the father, and it might never come for you too.
I’m sorry if this sounds too blunt or direct, but that’s how life is – you never know what’s going to happen next, so every moment is precious.
I know you all have busy lives and sometimes it’s tough to take out time for your loved ones, even if you want to. After all, you all earn for them and want to give them all the comforts in the world.
However, what worth are the comforts if you aren’t going to be there to enjoy them with your family? You spend those precious years earning money, and miss out on seeing your children grow.
Let me ask you – Is money everything for you? Are you really being a good father or a good mother to your kids? Or even if you are working, are you devoting enough time for your parents?
Are you really giving them the real gift of your time?
“The best thing to spend on your children is your time.” ~ Louise Hart
Being a mother, I know I am guilty at times and need to spend more time with my loved ones. So, while I write this I intend doing things differently from what the father did – work hard, but balance things out.
Go out and connect with your family and kids. They need you as much as you need them. Spend these precious moments that never return – with them. You’ll only be happy that you did. 🙂
Over to you –
Could you relate to the story of the father who had no time? Do you feel you also need to spend more time with your family? How do you plan making more time for them? Share below.
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