One of Farmer’s 4 Sons Robs His Family, Years Later Crawls to Them for Help – Story of the Day

A young man bites the hands that fed him and robs his own family. Fate strikes him with a painful blow years later and drives him to a dead end he cannot overcome without their help.

For some, their family is about love, and for 19-year-old Stuart's father, Peter, his family was his strength and pride. "Together we achieve but divided, we fall," he often told his four sons, and Stuart was the youngest.

Besides family, there was something else that Peter, 56, cherished and believed kept his family united and strong. It was his treasured farm that was passed on from generation to generation. It was a symbol of Peter's pride and solid proof that taught the younger generation about hard work and unity.

One day, Stuart approached his dad and told him he wanted his share of the fortune so that he could move to the city and start living his life alone. It was a terrible blow to Peter, who never wished to see his family break...

"But son, you don't know much about city life. I am afraid you'd wander like a lost lamb. This is your family, and we will always support you," Peter disappointedly said as soon as Stuart told him his intention to leave the house.

"Dad, I'm nineteen, and I have heard plenty about the city from my friends. I don't want to waste my time and energy farming with you. I have a purpose in life, and I don't want to become a farmer like you."

Peter was taken aback by his son's stubbornness and tried changing his mind.

"Son, this farm is our strength, and I've decided a destiny for my children. As soon as I see that you have gained enlightenment about life and have become wise, I'll give you your share of the fortune without you asking for it. You can do whatever you want with it and even live independently... I'll not stop you. But dear, this is too early to decide."

When life becomes hell and all those you trusted desert you, only your family stands by.

Stuart took that as a no and angrily hurled the shovel on the field. He walked away, frowning, and never turned around nor saw how heartbroken his dad was by his rude behavior.

On his way home, Stuart took a little break and sat on a bench, searching online for a good hotel in the city nearby. He booked a room as a wicked plan brewed in his mind.

"So what if dad refuses to give my share? My share is always mine, and I needn't ask his permission to have it. I will take it on my own," he thought and crept into Peter's room.

Stuart knew the combination of his dad's safe locker, where he kept the money and jewels. He looked around to ensure nobody was home, emptied his share into his backpack, locked the safe, and sneaked out without a trace.

That evening when Stuart didn't return to the farm...

"I tried calling him, but he is not answering my call. Jason, can you please call him?" Peter anxiously asked his eldest son to call Stuart after not finding him on the farm.

Stuart never returned even after sundown, so Peter and the rest hurried home, hoping to find him there. They checked Stuart's room and saw his clothes and suitcase were gone. It startled Peter, and he immediately raced to his bedroom to check the locker, only to find a significant amount of money and jewelry missing.

"How could he rob his own family??" his wife Doris cried.

Peter stayed calm and, in a soft, sad tone, said:

"He will be back! He will come to us after learning his lesson. He hasn't seen the world fully, and I'm sure fate will drive him toward an unexpected turn in life."

And Peter was right—fate had prepared the most painful blow for Stuart in the city he fled to.

Three years ticked by, and neither Peter nor his family heard anything about Stuart. One day, when the family least expected it, they saw a silhouette of a young man walk toward them. As he neared, they saw his tattered and dirty clothes and a face that had lost its charm to the wrath of time.

"STUART???!" Peter exclaimed as his children gathered around, speechless and shocked.

"Daddy, I need your help... I'm hungry," Stuart began.

"Oh, my dear... Jesus Christ... Please sit down first. Arlo, please bring some tea and bread for your brother," Peter exclaimed as he made Stuart sit on the field.

"Dad, I'm so sorry for robbing you. I took the money and the jewels and fled to the city. I started a small business," Stuart resumed talking.

"I wanted to achieve big quickly and come back to you as a wealthy businessman. I borrowed money, and everything went smoothly, but not for long. I went bankrupt and lost my home. Those I owe money to are stalking my peace of mind day and night. I need your help, daddy."

Saying or asking no more, Peter took Stuart home after the meal and showed him to his room. "You may have left us, but we never forgot about you, son. We regularly changed the bedsheets and curtains like we did when you were here. I knew you would come back to us one day."

Stuart enjoyed a delicious supper and fell asleep peacefully after a long time. He awakened the following morning, unprepared to witness what true love looked like.

"Good morning, sweetie! Your favorite pancakes and maple syrup," Doris greeted Stuart in his room with a breakfast tray.

He opened his sleepy eyes and saw his siblings circling his bed, holding a packet each.

Stuart rubbed his eyes and rose, puzzled.

"Brother, take this to pay off your debts and loans," Jason broke the silence, extending the packet in his hand to Stuart.

Confused and curious, Stuart took it and was speechless when he peeped into it. The rest also handed him their packets, and each was stashed with their share of their inheritance from the family business.

"Son, we hope this money and jewels will be enough to help you solve your problems!" Peter said as he entered the bedroom.

Overwhelmed by their love, Stuart could not utter a word. He hugged them all and left for the city to pay his debts. But was he grateful to his family? Did he return home or choose to live independently, just like he'd always dreamed of and wanted?

A couple of days later, Stuart returned home not as a wealthy businessman but as a farmer's son.

"Daddy, I want to get back to work. This is our farm, and I'll do all it takes to improve our lives."

Peter had never been so proud of his son before. He stole away from his sight to cry secretly and patted Stuart on his shoulders. From that day onward, Stuart dedicated his time and energy and worked hard to prove himself worthy of his family's love. He introduced new farming techniques he'd learned in the city and took every little step to improve their income.

A year flew by, and it was Stuart's twenty-second birthday. His siblings and parents gathered around the table as he blew out the candles and sliced the cake, tears of joy streaming from his face. It was the best birthday he'd ever celebrated, and just as Peter tasted a piece of his son's birthday cake, he made an important announcement.

"Son, remember I promised I would let you live on your own once I see you've gained enlightenment and become wise?

"The time has finally come, dear! I will give you a share of your inheritance, and you are free to go and live the life of your dreams!"

Stuart felt guilty for hurting such a wonderful and lovable father. He dropped to his knees and cried.

"Daddy, I realized family is more important than money or success. There's no success without the love and support of a family. I will stay here with you because I belong here. This is my life, and there's no future beyond my loved ones."

Peter was moved to tears as he lifted Stuart and hugged him. "I'm really proud of you, son!" he cried. Stuart then gave his fortune to his siblings as a token of appreciation for their love and sacrifice for him.

"Life taught me the importance of family and love. We can earn money back anytime, but we cannot replace the love and support we get from our loved ones."

"I love you all, and I'm genuinely sorry for what I did!" Stuart raised a toast as everyone cheered him up.

What can we learn from this story?

• Your family is your greatest treasure, and there is no success without the love and support of your family. In his race to establish an independent life, Stuart robbed his family and fled, only to learn later that his family was his greatest treasure.
• When life becomes hell and all those you trusted desert you, only your family stands by. When Stuart was bankrupt and could not get back on his feet, he sought his family's help. They did not bear any grudge against him and helped him.

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Two brothers join forces to renovate their great-grandpa's farm to honor his memory and are left surprised upon finding a secret message there. Click here to read the full story.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.