Column by Linda R. Jones
My father used to barrage me with e-mails when he was alive. He had discovered yet another medium for telling jokes, sending political messages (which we disagreed over), and occasionally some lovely parables. At the time, I used to get slightly annoyed seeing my e-mail box full of his shenanigans every morning when I had other important business to do. I didn’t delete them but saved them for a less hectic day. I would scroll through them, laugh, get frustrated with his political views, and smile at the pleasant messages.
I don’t get his e-mails anymore. I check my e-mail inbox every morning hoping to get just one from him. A few days ago I was looking for a business related e-mail from several months ago and as I scrolled down, I found some of my father’s e-mails that I hadn’t opened. Then I felt the sadness overwhelm me as I opened what I think is the last one he sent.
It was a parable. As I read it, the tears started flowing. Instead of paraphrasing I want to share my father’s e-mail with you.
“The Magic Bank Account
Imagine that you had won the following *PRIZE* in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use. However, this prize has rules:
The set of rules:
1. Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away from you.
2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
3. You may only spend it.
4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day.
5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say,“Game Over!” It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do?
You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for. Even for people you don’t know, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself, right?
You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right?
ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL …
Shocked ??? YES!
Each of us is already a winner of this *PRIZE*. We just can’t seem to see it.
The PRIZE is *TIME*
1. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.
2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is not credited to us.
3. What we haven’t used up that day is forever lost.
4. Yesterday is forever gone.
5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time WITHOUT WARNING…
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?
Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.
So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!
Here’s wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day. Start “spending”….”
As my counselor had advised me, just when I think I’m doing much better healing, I get hit with a reminder that my father is gone. I read the e-mail several times and printed it. Why didn’t I read it the day my father sent it to me? I could have called him or sent him an e-mail telling him it’s a beautiful reminder of life and I will start “spending” my seconds more. I know my father “spent” his seconds enjoying life to the fullest. Through my tears, I read his message from the past regularly. I keep it next to my journal. Maybe the message is more important to me now than when it was delivered yet that e-mail was read exactly when I needed it.
My healing journey continues. Join me. We can tell one another lovely stories. We can “start spending from our magic bank account.”
(Henry Alfred Rudolph. Born April 2, 1930. Died March 2, 2015.)
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