What Is It with That Time?

Emily and Jack were siblings exploring the world around them.

One afternoon, as they ran out of breath and sat under a tree in the park, Emily asked Jack, "Do you ever wonder how much time is worth?"

Jack, tilting his head thoughtfully, replied, "Yeah, I wonder about that too. Mom and Dad always say that time is precious, but we can't buy it. What do you think it means?"

That evening, as the family gathered for dinner, Emily and Jack decided to ask their parents about it. "Mom, Dad," Emily began, "we were wondering how much our time is worth. Can you explain it to us?"

Their parents smiled and exchanged a knowing glance. Dad set down his fork and said, "That's a wonderful question, Emily. Time is indeed precious, but not in the way that money is."

Mom nodded and added, "We can't buy time, but we can choose how we spend it. And the way we spend our time can make it very valuable."

Emily and Jack looked at each other, still a bit puzzled. "But how do we know if we're spending our time the right way?" Jack asked.

Dad leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. "Well, let's think about it this way. Do you remember when we went to the beach last time?"

Jack's eyes lit up. "Yes! We built the biggest sandcastle ever, and we played in the waves all day long!"

"And how did you feel that day?" Mom asked softly.

Emily's face broke into a wide smile. "We were so happy! It was one of the best days this summer so far."

Mom nodded. "That's right. Time is not lost when we do the things that make us happy. When we spend our time doing what we love, with the people we love, it's worth more than anything money can buy."

Dad added, "And it's not just about fun. Remember last weekend when we helped Aunty Denise?"

Jack nodded. "It felt good to help, and then the aunty had a nice time too!"

"Exactly," said Dad. "Using our time to help others, to learn new things, or to see the world in new ways makes our time valuable. It's not about money, but about creating moments that matter."

Emily and Jack thought about their parents' words. They realised that the time they spent playing, learning, and helping others made their days special and meaningful.

They understood what it means to “cherish” their time even more. They played together, learned new games, and spent many weekends with their elderly friends. They knew that their time was worth so much more when they used it to bring joy to themselves and others.

And so, Emily and Jack learned the true value of time. They understood that time well spent was truly a precious gift.