It was a cool fall morning, a young mother and her son went to the park to play. As they arrived, the young boy took off to play. The mother sat down on a bench beside a man she didn't know. “That is my son” she said, pointing over to the little boy who was on the slide. “What a fine young boy you have there” he said. “That is my daughter over there on the bike.”

As he looked down at his watch, it was getting close to time to go.

“Are you ready to go, sweetheart?”

“Dad, just 5 more minutes, please?????”

The father agreed as his daughter continued to ride her bike, smiling from ear to ear. As time ticked away, he asked his daughter again. “Is it time to go now?” Again his daughter pleaded for another 5 minutes. “OK” he said smiling.

“My you sure are a patient father.” The mother sitting beside him replied.

He smiled back at her and said “Her older brother was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with him, what I would give for 5 more minutes with him. I vowed not to make the same mistake with her. She thinks she gets an additional 5 minutes to ride. The truth is, I get 5 more minutes to watch her play.”

Life really is about knowing what is important in life and focusing on those things. To anyone who has lost a friend or family member, they know just how much 5 minutes really is. I have a few special friends that come to mind.