Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to
support his wife and three children.
He spent all his evenings after work attending classes, hoping
to improve himself so that he could one day find a better paying job. Except
for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and
studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best money
could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough
time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often
yearned to spend more time with his family.
The day came when the examination results were announced. To his
joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a
good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his
family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and vacation
abroad.
However, the family still did not get to see father for most of
the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position
of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he
enrolled for another course in the open university.
Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending
enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he
often yearned to spend more time with his family.
Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Jubilantly, he
decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also
felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough, it would be nice for
his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium.
Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father
resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family
still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on
Sundays entertaining clients. Again, whenever the family complained that he was
not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for
them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.
As expected, Father’s hard work paid off again and he bought a
beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday
evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to
take anymore courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going
to devote more time to his family.
Father did not wake up the next day.
So Always remember to balance your life and
career.
