When I was a child we had a “five minute rule” in our house. What it meant was that we were all to be ready for school five minutes before we actually had to leave.

We were a large family and that extra five minutes was prayer time for Mother and us children. The place was wherever Mother happened to be when we were all ready to leave. Sometimes it was the kitchen, other times the living room or bedroom, or even out on the porch. But we all kneeled while Mother asked a blessing on each of us individually and thanked the Lord for His provision for us. Often all of our names were spoken and some special blessing asked for each.

If a neighborhood child dropped in to walk to school with us (and neighbors often did), they were included in our prayer circle, too.

When the prayer was finished. there came a kiss for each, and we were off.

Those were Five Important Minutes to each of us.

—Adelaida Blanton