Many Things Can Wait. The Child Cannot.

From LDS Church News, Week Ending March 5, 2011:

In the early 1980s, before the three-hour block of meetings was instituted, a woman spent a Sunday afternoon preparing for a talk she was to give in sacrament meeting that evening. A single sister, she had two nieces whom she dearly loved. One of the little girls came to her house to show off a new dress. The aunt complimented the dress but the little girl hung around. It became obvious the child wanted to talk, but the aunt told her she was busy.

“For the life of me, I can't remember what I said in that sacrament meeting talk, but I cannot forget the look of disappointment on that child's face when I told her I was too busy to talk to her,” the aunt said. “Now I would give anything for the chance to spend some time with that little girl.”

Gabriela Mistral, Su Nombre es Hoy (His Name is Today):

    We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, and his senses are being developed. To him we cannot answer ‘tomorrow,’ his name is ‘today’.