Lesson 155: JUST FIVE MORE MINUTES

Kentucky Chaplain David Chaltas

A middle-aged man was sitting on a park bench watching his six-year-old boy play on the monkey bars. The child would go from one to the other and yell at his dad to see if he was looking. His dad would nod at him and always smile in the child’s direction. A young mother came by with her five year old and told the child to go play. She sat down on the next bench without looking in the direction of the man. After a couple of minutes, the man asked the young lady if that was her child, and she answered yes. She asked him the same question about the boy, and he assured her that was his pride and joy that he was watching.

The polite conversation continued until presently the man told his son it was time to go. The boy looked in the direction of his father and begged for just five more minutes to play with his newfound friend. The father smiled and said that would be fine. The conversation continued in lines of where did he work, what did her husband do and such common chats that occur between adults while the father watched his son interact with the young lady’s child. Again the man noted his watch and said to his son that it was time to go. “Dad, please let me have just five more minutes,” the boy said and the father simply nodded and looked at the interactions of youth. This occurred yet another time, and the lady could not contain herself any longer.

“Sir, four times you have told him it was time to go and four times he has asked for five more minutes. You must be so patient as a father,” she said with a smile.

“Oh no, you are mistaken young lady. You see I had another son who was twelve that was hit by a drunk driver while I was working. I made it home just in time to have him die in my arms. Without a word, he slipped into heaven. I was so busy making a living for my family that I had forgotten to make a life. I didn’t have the time to spend with him because I was always working. I constantly told him that we would go to the park together or go camping soon but I never seemed to get the time to do so. He was my joy and life, but I was too busy to realize it until it was too late. What I would give for just five more minutes with that child. So you see, the five minutes are not for him, but for me to watch him as he grows.”

Our gracious God offered His Son for us. No doubt He watched His Son grow while sitting on heaven's bench. He watched Him as he grew and spoke in the temple. At one time God could not contain Himself any longer, parted the skies, sent a dove to lite upon Jesus, and informed John The Baptist that this was HIS Son, with whom He was well pleased. He shielded Him for harm when the mob was going to hurt Him because He was watching. He watched as the devil tempted Him, and He sent saints to strengthen Him for the trials ahead. He witnessed the miracles performed by His Son. He proudly watched His Son drive the moneylenders from the temple. He watched His Son offer Himself as our communion in the last supper. He watched His Son give Himself for the sins of the people. He watched with a trembling heart as His only begotten Son was tortured and hung upon a cross. He shook the earth with His sorrow as His Son was suspended between heaven and earth. He watched them lay the clay within the earth. Three days later he watched as Jesus rose from the dead and walked upon the wind. He watched as Christ ascended into heaven. He RAN and embraced His Son with a Father’s love as he entered heaven’s gate. He now watches His Son sitting at the right hand of God’s throne prepare to greet His people.

What would you give for just five more minutes with a loved one? What price are you willing to pay for just a few precious moments with that child that you so dearly loved? They grow up so fast, and as parents we sometimes take them for granted and quit watching with a loving heart. Let us treasure those precious moments, embracing them with love of life and gratitude to our God for allowing us just five more minutes with our children. Longing for just five more minutes, I remain your obedient servant, The Old General