The Gift of Time

By Jenny Dendinger
The other night, my teenage son asked me to play a video game with him. I was physically and emotionally spent from a long, hard day, but I took one look at my boy’s smile, and I knew where God was calling me to be.
Everything on my mind felt so heavy in that moment. I silently prayed for the strength I needed to switch gears and enjoy my son.
I plopped down next to him on our oversized chair in the living room, grabbed a controller and allowed him to teach me how to play a game I haven’t touched in more than 20 years.
Video games aren’t usually my thing, but we had so much fun! And guess who won – four times in a row! Each time I popped one of his balloons, he laughed and yelled out a surprised “MOM!” in that deep, manly voice that I’m still getting used to hearing come out of his 15-year-old mouth.
Shocking him with my gaming abilities really lifted my spirits and pulled me out of my funk. It was a gift from God that allowed my mind a break from worry and a chance to enjoy the blessings right in front of me.
Eventually, my son was able to beat me. He patiently waited for my old mama hands to become cramped and crippled by the small controller and tiny buttons, and then he swooped in for the win!
One thing I’ve learned about parenting is that if a child asks you to spend time with them, you should try your best not to turn them down. These moments with our children are fleeting. The chance to enjoy them while we have the opportunity is a gift from God we shouldn’t ignore.