SO SAD, TOO LATE

A child was dispatched by his father on an urgent mission to purchase food at a restaurant. The assignment was urgent, and his father was starving. The child realized he needed to leave the house and go to the restaurant right away.

However, when he walked back, something drew his attention. His mates were playing football directly in front of him. The sounds of the game filled the air, including laughter, shouting, and the pounding of feet on the ground. The child originally tried to continue walking, but his curiosity got the better of him. He slowed down and then paused to observe for a moment. The game was thrilling, and he found himself sucked into it, forgetting the motive for his errand. As he stood there, one of his buddies encouraged him to join them. It felt so tempting. He couldn't stop himself from playing the game.

He decided to leave the food with some folks nearby whom he did not know well, trusting them to look after it for a short while. He rushed onto the field, eager to play. At that point, the urgency of his work had entirely passed his mind. He played with all of his energy, dribbling past opponents, creating scoring chances, and even scoring a few goals. The crowd cheered, and for a moment, he felt like the star of the game. He was entirely immersed in the excitement and lost count of time and responsibility.

But as night fell, the game ended. The ball's owner grabbed it up, and the other players began to leave. The thrill diminished as the game concluded. The child stood there, instantly alert to his surroundings. The crowd had dispersed, the ball had vanished, and the players were nowhere to be seen. That's when he realized how serious the situation was. He had completely forgotten about the meal he was supposed to bring back to his father.

He ran over to where he'd left the food, but it was too late. The food had been eaten by goats and dogs. He could only gaze in bewilderment."But I left it with some guys right here just a moment ago," he mumbled, realizing the weight of his irresponsibility. The food was gone, and there was no point in trying to replace it. The moment has passed. He picked up the empty plates, but the exhilaration he had felt before, the delight of the game, vanished.

His mind raced with regret. The enthusiasm, excitement, and pride of being the focus of attention were all gone. He was left with unclean, discolored plates. Time had passed through his fingers, and it was now too late to change things. He walked home slowly, his head low. His heart was heavy with grief and remorse, and tears of despair filled his eyes as he returned to his father's house, attempting to hide his shame in the darkness of the night.

When people saw him, they inquired why he was crying and why he was roaming about in the dark with empty, unclean dishes. Just hours ago, he had departed with clean plates, full of joy and eagerness. He now returned with nothing but empty dishes, a broken soul, and no food to show for his efforts. He said that his father would definitely punish him. He understood the implications of spending time and failing to accomplish his tasks. He couldn't go back and change what had happened.

This represents a tremendous lesson for all of us. We all have a purpose in life, and we were brought here for a reason. Our Father, our Creator, is waiting for us to finish the duty He has assigned us. Life can be full of distractions—temptations that draw us away from our actual purpose. Applause, transient joys, and distractions that may appear important at the time are all meaningless in the end. When the night falls and it is time to account for our lives, those distractions will fade. We will be left alone before our Creator, with nothing to show but what we have accomplished in our lives.

So, avoid distractions. Maintain concentration on your assignment. Remember, we are all on a trip back to our Father, and when it comes time to give an account, what will we have to offer? The world's plaudits, or the realization of our genuine purpose? The ball we are currently playing with will soon be taken away from us. People who are rooting for us will fade away. What will you tell your Maker when it's time to report back? Will you return empty-handed, with just regrets? Will you accomplish the purpose He has set for you?