I have seen the following story in various places,
but I do not know the original author:

"Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"  With a timid voice and idolizing eyes, the little boy greeted his father as he returned from work.

Giving his boy a glaring look, the father said:
"Look, Son, don't bother me now, I'm tired."

"But, Daddy, just tell me please!  How much do
you make an hour?" the boy insisted.

"The father, finally giving up, replied: "Ten
dollars an hour."

"Okay, Daddy.  Could you loan me five dollars?"
the boy asked.

Showing his restlessness and positively disturbed, the father yelled: "So that was the reason
you asked how much I earn, right?  Go to sleep and don't bother me anymore!"

It was already dark and the father was meditating
on what he said and was feeling guilty.  Maybe, he
thought, his son wanted to buy something.  Finally, trying to ease his mind, the father went to his son's room. "Are you asleep, son?" asked the father.

"No, Daddy. Why?" replied the boy, partially
asleep.

"Here's the money asked for earlier," the father
said.

"Thanks, Daddy!" rejoiced the son, while putting
his hand under his pillow and removing some money.  "Now I have enough! Now I have ten dollars! Daddy, could you sell me one hour of your time?"

As a father, this hits me hard.  It is so easy to get
involved in providing for the family and doing "good things" for others, that my family ends up being neglected.  We sometimes think that what will make our children happiest is to have more "things", when what they really want, what they desire more than anything else is just a bit of our time.

"Children's children
are the crown of old men,
and the glory of children
is their father."
(Prov. 17:6)

Heavenly Father, as I stand aware of your
constant presence, help me to learn from you to be the kind of father I should be to my children. Help me to never grow so "busy" that I fail to have time for those you have entrusted into my special care.  In Jesus' name, amen.