A woman and a man who were watching their children play at a playground, eventually got into a conversation. After a while, the man called out to his son who was on a swing, saying it was time to go home. The son pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.” The father agreed to the child’s earnest plea.

After a few minutes the father called out to his son again saying that it was time to go home. Once again, the son pleaded, “Five more minutes Dad. Just five more minutes.” The father gladly agreed with the child’s request for a second time.

Listening to the conversation between father and son, the woman complimented the man on his patience. The father replied, “My older son Tommy passed away last year and I never spent much time with Tommy. Now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’d vowed not to make the same mistake with Sam. He thinks he has five more minutes to swing. The truth is, I get five more minutes to watch him play.”

Possible Preaching Angle:

The quality time we spend with our child today is never wasted time. It may also help us avoid much regret and heartache tomorrow. The Lord Jesus clearly enjoyed spending time with children for he said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” (Matt. 19:14-15).