“but do not feel bad that you didn’t bring me with you, for i would not have come then. it was not time.”

“also,” grandpa went on, looking at me, “i have come because it is soon time for martin to have the medicine bag.”

“tomorrow,” he said, “when you come home, it will be time to give you the medicine bag.”

“it would not be right to wear it in this time and place, where no one will understand.”

what is the best interpretation of the repeated use of the word “time”?

you have to be a certain age to receive a family heritage object.
the time of year matters when passing along a family tradition.
timing is an important part of the sioux culture that is being handed to martin.