The last word

There was a man named David who lived in a small community with his ten children.

David was not a rich man. He had no big house, no expensive car, and no money saved in the bank. But he had something that money could never buy: ten children whom he loved more than his own life.

Every morning, before the sun came out, David would wake up and prepare for work.

His wife would sometimes ask him, “David, when will you rest?”

He would smile and say, “I will rest when my children are doing better than me.”

Those words became his daily prayer.

David worked very hard. Sometimes he carried heavy loads. Sometimes he worked under the hot sun. On days when work was difficult to find, he would return home with nothing.

When his children asked, “Daddy, what did you bring for us?”

He would smile and say, “Tomorrow will be better.”

But sometimes, David himself did not believe that tomorrow would be better.

He simply did not want his children to lose hope.

As the years passed, the children grew older. David made sure they went to school whenever he could afford it.

He often told them, “Education is the wealth I can give you. I may not leave you money, but I can leave you knowledge.”

His children listened.

Some days, they had no food before going to school. Some days, their clothes were old. Other children laughed at them because they were poor.

David always told them, “Never be ashamed of where you come from. Your beginning does not decide your ending.”

Years passed, and his children began to succeed.

One became a teacher.

Another became a nurse.

One became a businessman.

Another became an engineer.

The others also found their own paths in life.

For the first time, David began to enjoy the reward of his sacrifices.

But age had already caught up with him.

One evening, David became seriously ill. His ten children gathered around his bed.

The house that once sounded like a marketplace was now silent.

David looked at each of them.

“I am proud of you,” he said.

His oldest son held his hand and replied, “Daddy, you gave us everything.”

David shook his head.

“No. I didn't give you everything. I only gave you what I had.”

His daughter began to cry.

David continued, “There is one thing I want from all of you.”

“What is it, Daddy?” they asked.

“Stay together.”

He paused and took a deep breath.

“Money can separate brothers. Success can create pride. But remember the days when we had nothing. Remember that you were ten children sitting around one table, sharing one meal.”

Everyone began to cry.

David looked at them one last time.

“When I am gone, don't fight over what I left behind. Take care of one another. If one falls, lift him up. If one succeeds, celebrate with him. And if one becomes poor, don't abandon him.”

His youngest daughter leaned close to him.

“Daddy, do you have anything else to say?”

David smiled.

“Yes.”

The room became completely quiet.

He whispered, “Love each other.”

Those were his last words.

David died that night.

His ten children buried him beside the old house where they had grown up.

After the funeral, they stood together in silence.

His oldest son finally said, “Our father didn't leave us money.”

His sister replied, “But he left us something greater.”

“What?”

“Each other.”

From that day forward, the ten children kept their father's final command.

Whenever one struggled, the others helped.

Whenever one succeeded, they celebrated together.

And whenever they faced difficulties, they remembered their father's words:

“Your beginning does not decide your ending.”

David had spent his entire life believing that he had little to give.

But in the end, he discovered that the greatest thing a parent can leave behind is not wealth.

It is character, love, wisdom, and children who know how to stand together.

And that was David's last word.