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 writing on
And after wiping her hands on her apron
She read it
And this is what it said
"For mowing the yard
Five dollars
For making my own bed this week
One dollar
For going to the store
Fifty cents
For playing with my little brother
While you went shopping
Twenty-five cents
For taking out the trash
One dollar
For getting a good report card
Five dollars
And for raking the yard
Two dollars
Total amount owed
Fourteen dollars
And seventy-five cents"
Well, as mama looked at him
Standing there expectantly
And I could see the memories
Flashing through her mind
And so she picked up the pen
And turning 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 add it all up
The full cost of our love
Is no charge"
Well, when I finished reading
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 letters
He wrote "Paid in full"
When you add it all up
The cost of real love
Is no charge