Articles
Every Precious Moment
Every Precious Moment
Corey Sawyers
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
What would you do if you found out your son or daughter only had minutes to live? For Bethany and Eric Conkel of Dayton, Ohio, that was their reality. During their pregnancy, doctors informed the young parents that their son had a severe congenital disability in which babies do not develop part of their brain or skull.
They decided to carry the pregnancy to full-term knowing they would only have minutes with their son before he would die. In the short time they had, Bethany says, "We could only love him, celebrate his existence, and embrace the time we had with him."
So, what should I do if I knew I only had a few minutes with my child? Bethany's three points serve as a great reminder:
First, I should love them (Psalm 127:3a). As a gift from God, I would want to shower them with agape love - seeking their best rather than my own. I would want to love my children sacrificially, absolutely, and unconditionally. I would want to show that love. I would want them to know, without a doubt, I loved them.
Second, I should celebrate their existence (Psalm 127:3b). The verse says they are a reward! I would want to be with them. I would not have the attitude that they are a burden, a bother, or an anchor holding me back. I would cherish them every single minute! I would pray, in their presence, prayers of thanksgiving for them. I would tell them just how much they mean to me.
Third, I should embrace the time I have with them (Psalm 127:4-5a). I would not only cherish them but also the time I had with them. I would not be too busy to play a game, act silly, read to them, pray with them, or do anything else with them. The news, my job, the car, the ballgame - nothing would come before them.
The truth is, none of us are promised the next 80 minutes, much less the minutes beyond. If you KNEW you only had 80 minutes, you would do all those things. However, since we do not KNOW we have the next 80 minutes, shouldn't we spend every minute as parents in that way? Don't just have kids, be parents! Love, cherish, and embrace your children. We cannot raise them properly (Eph. 6:4) unless we first appreciate every precious minute we have with them.
