Whose Time?

Whose Time?
By Major Betzann Carroll
Dedicated to Stephen Carroll Jr.

It seems like we waited so long for the arrival of our first son. Finally, our 7lb.7oz.son was born. At two weeks old, Stephen was diagnosed with Aortic Stenoses and at two years old he was scheduled for open-heart surgery. His biggest concern at this time was to have a Mickey Mouse watch for his very own. He wanted a Mickey Mouse watch and in his own words, “what the Mickey Hands go round and round.” His daddy promised that after the doctors were all done and his surgery completed, he could have his very own Mickey Mouse Watch. Stephen was fascinated with clocks and watches, and had even attempted on one occasion to take a clock apart and see how it worked.

The day came to hand our only son over to the surgical team at Boston Children’s Hospital. I admit that it may have been the most difficult thing I have ever done. My husband took Stephen from my arms and gave him to the doctors, while I watched. It was difficult, but not as difficult as the waiting. We spent time in the hospital chapel. There we found a woman trying to meditate with chants and movements. There we found a couple trying to light a candle. Between the two, they could not steady their hands long enough to get the candle lit. Still another man was flipping through the “Readers Digest”, obviously looking for some comfort and strength.

We were then asked to wait in the private room, which was connected to Stephen’s surgical team. We would be notified of his condition during various phases of the procedure. This is where we would stay, waiting for the telephone to ring.

Time seemed to stand still. I imagined how I would feel if the telephone rang, and all was well. I could visualize Mickey’s white gloves turning round and round the face of Stephen’s new watch. I thought how exciting it would be to fasten the little red strap about his wrist, the very wrist that was now hooked up with wires of every sort. There was strength in the assurance of God’s Word.

“But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4,5

God is God! We reminded ourselves that His timing is perfect. God sent His Son to be born at just the right time. The length of our physical life may not be as long as we desire, but our eternal life is forever through Jesus Christ our Lord. We realized that whether Stephen was allowed many more years or just a few, perhaps none at all, he had the assurance of eternal life. God was the very author of time.

Stephen has since out-grown his Mickey Mouse watch. He has also out grown his Super Sports watch, his G.I. Joe watch, and even his underwater Swatch watch. I don’t even think he has a watch today! The physician said the surgery was successful and done at just the right time, which was very important. He could not guarantee that Stephen would have a long life span, but who is guaranteed a long life.

There will come a day when time as we know it will cease. Time will no longer be measured in minutes and hours. Mickey Mouse will retire. When time shall be no more, we shall live forever. God sent His Son at just the right time.