Just Five More Minutes...

It was a beautiful spring morning. Sitting on a bench in the park, a father watched his five-year-old daughter Mira play on the swing. It had been a rough week, and sitting in the park and watching his daughter play felt soothing.?

After about 30 minutes, a woman came and sat next to him. “That’s my son over there”, she pointed toward a little boy playing on a slide. Mira's father smiled and responded, “He looks so happy and cheerful. How adorable! That’s my daughter playing on the swing”. The woman smiled and exclaimed, “She is as cute as a button”.

Then, looking at his watch, the father said, “Mira what do you say, shall we go now?”. Mira requested, “No, Just five more minutes, Dad. Please…… just five more minutes.” The father nodded, and Mira continued to swing to her heart’s content.

15 minutes passed, and the father called his daughter again. “Come on Mira, it’s time to go now.” Mira again pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad….. give me just five more minutes.” The father smiled and said, “Okay, Sweetheart”. Mira continued playing. She was having a great time and her father was happy watching her. His eyes reflected the joy that he was experiencing.

After 15 minutes or so, the father called out again, and Mira asked for five minutes once again. The father happily agreed.

The woman sitting next to him was observing all this and was quite surprised. "You are one of the most patient parents I have seen. I admire the way you are entertaining your daughter’s requests with a smile on your face. If I were you, I would have been annoyed.”

The father smiled and replied, “Her older brother was killed by a drunk driver last year while riding his bike. I never spent much time with him, and now I would give anything to spend just five more minutes with him. I have vowed not to make the same mistake with Mira. She thinks she has five more minutes to play. The truth is, I get five more minutes to watch her play."

This story reminded me of the last 18 months I got to spend with my father before we lost him. During that phase, I knew that our time together was limited but I didn't know how much time we had. Time slipped by, and so did opportunities to have conversations. As his illness progressed, he lost his ability to speak. I could share what I wanted him to know but couldn't hear what he wanted to say. I too, would give anything to speak to him for just 5 more minutes.

This story nudged me to ask myself, "Where could there be an opportunity for me to be present for just five more minutes with someone or to do something that will lose its relevance if postponed?'

Wishing you an awesome week ahead ??