It was a quiet Saturday afternoon when two boys, maybe eleven or twelve, appeared at my door. They held rakes taller than themselves. The taller one cleared his throat:
“Excuse me, sir. Would you like us to rake your yard? Ten dollars total.”
I looked at my yard a mess of leaves, hours of work waiting to be done. “Ten dollars total?” I asked. They nodded, shy but determined. Five dollars each.
I could have accepted the bargain and moved on. But something about their hope, their willingness to work, reminded me of myself at that age hustling, trying, wanting a chance.
“Alright,” I said. “You’ve got a deal.”
For the next two and a half hours, they worked tirelessly. Every leaf raked, every bag filled, the driveway swept. Sweat dripped down their faces, but they kept going, smiling as they finished.
When the last bag was tied, I handed them eighty dollars.
The taller boy froze. “Sir, we said ten”
“I know,” I said. “But I also know what two hours of real work is worth. You earned this.”
They stared at the money in disbelief. The shorter boy whispered, “Thank you. Really, thank you.”
As they walked away, I realized something important: teaching kids the value of hard work isn’t just about words. It’s about showing them that effort, integrity, and dedication are noticed and sometimes generously rewarded.
Hard work pays. Integrity counts. Showing up matters. And sometimes, those lessons come with a little extra reward.