INDEX OF QUOTES
 |
The cost of our society’s "busyness" and the need to listen our children’s voices is best conveyed by the following story from an unknown author: Once upon a time, a man came home frustrated from a day’s work. As he entered the house, his young son ran up to him eager for his dad’s attention. After a brief moment of affection, he brushed his son off and disappeared into his bedroom. Moments later, a small knock was heard at the door. "Who is it?" exclaimed the impatient father. "It’s me, Dad! Want to play catch?" "No, I’m too busy!" came the reply. "When do you think you might have time, Dad?" "Later!" came the through-the-door response. Later at dinner, the son, anxious to talk to Dad, launched into a dissertation about his day. The boy noticed that Dad wasn’t paying much attention, so he began to sit quietly, introspectively, and then he asked, "Dad, how much do you make an hour?" The father, thinking this was far beyond reason, snapped at his son, "That’s none of your business! You have clothes on your back and food in your stomach; that’s all you need to know!" With that, the father went back to reading his paper and listening to the evening news. He was so withdrawn from his immediate environment that he never saw the sad, tearful expression on his son’s face as he eased away from the dinner table. Later, as he finished reading the newspaper and giving an account of his day to his patient wife, he looked for his son. He recalled the last "insensitive" exchange that took place between them. He went to his son, who was lying on his bed, his pillow wet with tears. The father tried to explain how some subjects are adult business, and he didn’t need to know how much money he made; his son should know better. As he concluded his explanation, curiosity got the better of him and he asked, "Why do you want to know how much money I make, anyway?" The young son sat up on his bed and said, "I wanted to know so I could save up my allowance and buy an hour of your time!" |
 |
|