The $20 Story...

A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 4-year-old daughter waiting for her at the door.

DAUGHTER: 'Mummy, may I ask you a question?'

... ...

...

MUM: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the woman.

DAUGHTER: 'Mummy, how much do you make an hour?'

MUM: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the woman said angrily.

DAUGHTER: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'

MUM: 'If you must know, I make $20 an hour.'

DAUGHTER: 'Oh,' the little girl replied, with her head down.

DAUGHTER: "Mummy, may I please borrow $5?"

The mother was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'

The little girl quietly went to her room and shut the door...

The woman sat down and started to get even angrier about the little girl's questions. How dare she ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down, and started to think:

Maybe there was something she really needed to buy with that $5 and she really didn't ask for money very often. The woman went to the door of the little girl's room and opened the door.

'

Are you asleep, daughter?' She asked.

'No Mummy, I'm awake,' replied the girl.

'

I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the woman. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $5 you asked for.'

The little girl sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you Mummy!' she yelled. Then, reaching under her pillow she pulled out some crumpled up bills.

The woman saw that the girl already had money, started to get angry again.

The little girl slowly counted out her money, and then looked up at her mother.

'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the mother grumbled.

'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little girl replied.

'Mummy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'

The mother was crushed. She put her arms around her little girl, and she begged for her forgiveness.

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

Do remember to share that $20 worth of your time with someone you love ❤️ 

That person may just be so close yet so far.