A Mother's Love

A little boy came
up to his mother in
the kitchen one
evening while she
was fixing supper,
and 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 up my
room this week:
$1.00
For going to the
store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my
kid brother 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, his mother
looked at him
standing there,
and the boy could
see the memories
flashing through
her mind. 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
were growing
inside me:
No Charge
For all the nights
that I've sat up
with you, doctored
and prayed for
you:
No Charge
For all the trying
times, and all the
tears that you've
caused through
the years:
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:
No Charge
Son, when you add
it up, the cost of
my love is:
No Charge.
When the boy
finished reading
what his mother
had written, there
were big tears in
his eyes, and he
looked straight 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".