Hi.
take a look at how to use timers or task schedulers to achieve that.
 
for example: https://github.com/arkhipenko/TaskScheduler
 
or simply use millis() to count the elapsed time.
 
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Sara
 

Sara, thanks for the reply.  The Task Scheduler is far too complex for my paygrade. Your second suggestion contains the keyword. “simply” . The timer is probably the best course of action. I think a better way of describing my needs here is to say that I am trying to make this switch be non-latching rather than latching. In other words , I want the output device to provide a short contact closure each to time the input device sends the “on” payload to the correct topic. 
This has also presented me with another thought regarding whether or not I conduct this timing in the output side of the system or the input side? At the present time, I am thinking that the use of a carefully timed duration would be better defined at the output. 
Thanks for your help
KentM

Hi.
Yes. I think so too.
If your code is relatively simple, and you don’t mind blocking your code, you can use a delay, which is way easier to implement.
 
However, adding a timer is better if then you want to add some more tasks without blocking the code.
 
Let me know if you need further help.
 
 
Regards,
Sara