Teresa Finkle had two sons, Thomas and Walter. As the years went by, they stopped visiting her. They didn’t call or check on her, and she felt very lonely. So she decided to rent out her spare rooms—not for money, but because she wanted company.
Grace, a single mother, and her daughter Katherine moved in. Over time, they grew close. They cooked together, shared stories, and celebrated holidays like a real family. To Teresa, they were family.
When Teresa died, her sons went to the lawyer expecting to inherit her house and money. But they were shocked to see Grace and Katherine there. They were even more shocked when the lawyer read the will:
Teresa left her sons one dollar each, so they couldn’t argue legally.
She gave everything else—the house, the savings, everything—to Grace and Katherine. She had even saved all the rent Grace paid and kept it for Katherine’s future education.
Thomas and Walter were furious and stormed out, but the lawyer reminded them they hadn’t visited, called, or even shown up to her funeral.
Later, the brothers returned to get things from their old rooms. While upstairs, they found a letter from their mother. In it, she told them not to take anything from Grace and Katherine, saying they had been her true family. She said she still loved her sons but hoped they would learn to treat others better.
After reading the letter, the brothers quietly left. They never caused more trouble. Every year, Grace saw them visiting Teresa’s grave with flowers.
Lesson:
Don’t forget your parents. Life gets busy, but one phone call or visit can mean everything. Thomas and Walter realized this too late.