No Charge

Our little boy came up to his mama in the kitchen this evening

While she was fixing supper

And he handed her a piece of paper he'd been writin' on

And after wipin' her hands on her apron she read it and this is what it said

For mowin' the yard 5 dollars

For makin' my own bed this week 1 dollar

For going to the store 50 cents

For playin' with my little brother while you went shoppin' 25 cents

For taking out the trash 1 dollar

For gettin' a good report card 5 dollars

And for rakin' the yard 2 dollars

Total amount owed 14 dollars and 75 cents

Well as mama looked at him standin' there expectanly

And I could see the memories flashin' through her mind

And so she picked up the pen and turnin' the paper over

This is what she wrote and I read it to him

For the nine months she carried you growing inside her no charge

For the nights we sat up with you doctoring you praying for you no charge

For the time and the tears that you've caused through the years there's no charge

When you added all up the full cost of our love is no charge

For the nights filled with dread and the worries ahead no charge

For advice and for knowledge and the cost of your college no charge

For the toys food and clothes and for wiping your nose there's no charge

When you added all up the full cost of our love is no charge

Well when I finished readin' he had big tears in his eyes

And he looked up at his mother and he said mama I sure do love you

Then he took the pen and in great big letter he wrote Paid In Full

When you added all up the cost of real love is no charge