No Charge

Sent May 13, 2007

Our little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass, $5.00
For cleaning my room this week, $1.00
For going to the store for you, .50
Baby-sitting my kid brother for you while you went shopping, .25
Taking out the garbage, $1.00
For getting a good report card, $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard, $2.00
Total Owed: $14.75

Well, I'll tell you, his mother looked at him standing there expectantly, and boy, could I see the memories flashing through her mind. So she picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you grew inside me, No Charge.

For all the nights I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you, No Charge.

For all the trying times, and all the tears you've caused through the years, No Charge.

When you add it all up, the cost of my love is, No Charge.

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead, No Charge.

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose, there's No Charge, Son.

And when you add it all up, the full cost of real love is No Charge.

Well, friends, when our son finished reading what his mother had written, there were great big old tears in his eyes, and he looked straight up at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote : "PAID IN FULL."

"No Charge" was written by Gospel singer Shirley Caesar. It was also a country song produced by Howard-Sony Tree Publishing Co., Inc. and sung by Melba Montgomery.