“I wish we were rich!”  Tim said to his mother while they were taking breakfast.  His mother gave him a look of surprise and asked, “Well, who wouldn’t want to be rich, son.  But may I ask why this thing suddenly crossed your mind at this time of the morning?”

“I want to be rich so I could have the best things in life.” Tim replied with a grin on his face.

“But do you know, my son, that you could have the best things in life even if you are not rich,” his mother said.

“How can this be, Mom?” Tim asked in disbelief.

“It is because the best things in life are free,” his mother replied.

“I don’t understand.  Do you mean to say that a large beautiful house, wide screen flat television, play station, delicious foods are free?”

“Of course not, my dear son,” his mother said.

“I don’t get it. Then the best things in life are not free.  You are just putting me on,” Tim said as if offended.

“Tim, you are just a boy and do not yet understand the deeper things of what life means.  The things you mentioned are not free which only means that they are not the best things in life.”

“They are not?” Tim asked, not believing his mother.

“My son, as you grow older, you will learn to see things in a different perspective.  You will come to realize that the best things in life are not on the material things on this world but mostly on what we feel.  Like the love shared by two people—love between husband and wife, love between parents and their children, love between friends etc.  Another is the beauty that surrounds us like the wide blue sky, witnessing each sunrise and sunset, the sounds of the birds as they chirp on the trees, the smile and laughter of a baby and many more.”

“I am confused, Mom.  If these are the best things in life, why do I still crave for other things?”

“It is because people neglect to appreciate the things which they already possessed and focus on the things that they don’t have.  Like you, you don’t know how lucky you are and that many rich kids out there would like to trade places with you if only they can.”

“Yes, I do remember, Brad, one of my classmates.  I once invited him here.  They are so rich, got a big house and anything money could buy, but he told me that I am so lucky to have always parents waiting for me each time that I come home because his parents were seldom home coz they were always too busy working.  And when they were home, they are so tired to talk to him.  They just give him enough money and they think that’s enough.”

“So would you rather we were rich but we won’t see each other in our own big house?” his mother teased.

“Not a chance,” Tim replied and then continued, “But I still want to be rich someday.”

“No one is stopping you to become rich, my son.  All I am saying is do not forget to have time for the best things that matter most in this life.”

Tim nodded and then quickly got up to go.

“Hey, where are you going?” his mother asked.

“Mom, I forgot to tell you that Brad invited me to come over at their house.”

“Whatever for?” his mother asked.

“Mom, I am going to enjoy one of the best things in life—that is the joy of friendship.  Brad and I are going to try the new game he bought, and then I am going to invite him again here for lunch.  He told me how he had enjoyed eating with us the last time because he misses eating with his parents.”

“Okay, run along now and be careful.  Make sure you and Brad are not late for lunch.”