Elder St Paisios on the Primacy of Eternity over Earthly Life
“In any case, the godparent has a great responsibility. My parents had once promised their friends’ family that someone in our family would baptise one of their children. When that time came, everyone in our family had gone away; so they asked me to be the godfather. I was sixteen years old then and I didn’t want to baptise the child because I was quite aware of the great responsibility I would have to assume. I was in a tough spot, so I prayed for guidance. “My Lord,” I prayed “if he is destined to become a good person, take all the years from me and give them to him. But if he is to become an evil person, take him now that he is still an angel.” I baptised the child, giving him the name, Paul. He died one week later. He is secure in Heaven now.”
– ‘Family Life’