Yesterday we celebrated our independence. We woke up with nothing on the agenda but a movie, a cookout and some fireworks. These kinds of days excite me. I love to have fun.
Me and Jules headed on over to the grocery store to get the goodies and then we picked Kimmy up and headed over to watch the newest creation from PIXAR… Brave. I would recommend it. everything they produce is worth the time.
Well, as the credits began to roll, we took off to pick up some last-minute things for the evening and I got a text from a friend telling me to have my wife read here text. She got her phone and, as she read, her face went from happy to terrified. Two little boys from our church had been involved in an accident at the lake. At that time, it was reported that they both had died. Jules had just attended VBS with them. She was in Sunday school with one of them. Our day went from busy and exciting to quiet and sad. Kimberly told Jules the sad news and she just put her face in her hands and wept.
We never know when we’ve seen someone for last time. I’m afraid we take our time together with family and friends for granted. When God allows someone close to come home, it’s a reminder that we need to cherish every moment we have with them.
Years ago I wrote a song about this very thing. Just a couple of years after I wrote it, I sang it at my father’s funeral…
Cherish The Time
Verse: Watching my boy from the football stands, the stadium’s filled with cheers. Counting the times I’ve watched him before but tonight he’s not on the field. Instead it’s his graduation and when they called his name I felt proud. As I look in his face, I can’t help but think… Did I give to him the best that I had?
Chorus: Cherish the time that you have with the ones you love. It could be last time you look into their eyes or see them smile, or say that you love them so. Who knows exactly what our tomorrow holds. Don’t let a day slip by, cherish the time.
Verse: I woke up last night about three a.m., I got up and walked around. I opened the doors to the bedrooms where my children once laid their heads. Tonight they’re in other cities with their families all tucked away. As my knees hit the floor I asked the dear Lord, “Please bless us with another day”, and it seemed like I heard Him say…
Chorus: Cherish the time that you have with the ones you love. It could be last time you look into their eyes or see them smile, or say that you love them so. Who knows exactly what our tomorrow holds. Don’t let a day slip by, cherish the time.
Bridge: Every precious life is like the stars we wish upon. One day burning bright, the next day sadly gone. You need to…
Chorus: Cherish the time that you have with the ones you love. It could be last time you look into their eyes or see them smile, or say that you love them so. Who knows exactly what our tomorrow holds. Don’t let a day slip by, cherish the time.
As of this post, one of the children was revived and is now on life support. Although it is in the news, I don’t feel at liberty to mention the names of the children or their families but God knows all of those involved. Please say a pray for them today and cherish those whom God has placed in your own life.
Update… The child who was on support has passed away. Keep these families in your prayers.
* If you would like to receive a copy of Cherish The Time, mail me at povrotty@gmail.com.
Has this been recorded?
Only demoed… but it’s a great demo!
If you’d like a copy of the song… go to Paypal.com and and deposit $0.99. My paypal name is povrotty@aol.com.
As I heard this news yesterday my heart was breaking for all involved with these precious children. Their families of course, but, the impact is not going to stop there nor for a long time. It will have an impact on the these families friends and the children’s friends. The children that know them will carry this memory with them for the rest of their lives. Their church family will also grieve while they minister to the precious families. It is always heart breaking to lose someone we love but, it seems that when our loved one receives the call from heaven via a tragedy the impact is ten fold greater. You are so very right! So often we do take our loved ones and the time we have to spend with them for granted. We all need to be more conscious of the fact that none of us are promised another sunset. We need to make each moment count and live as if each day could be our last. Treat everyone with respect and kindness and then there will be no regrets of the way we said……goodbye.
Powerful words to this song! I firmly believe that we should “cherish the time” with our friends and loved ones. My dad went to Heaven in Dec. 2008. Just a couple of days before he died, I remember being at his bedside and I told him, “Daddy, I’m so proud of you!” He reached out his hand to me and he said, “I’m proud of you too.” What a precious memory! He was a Baptist pastor for over 50 years. Now both of my parents are in Heaven.
Yes, I have also heard about this tragedy on the news, and my prayers are with all those involved. Until our children are far away from us, we don’t realize how precious the time is that we are able to spend with them. The words to your song are very powerful, and I hope everyone will take the time to realize how important our families and friends are to us, and never be ashamed to tell folks that we love them.
Chris this is so sad but now they are safe in the arms of God! It is true we never know when God will say come on home my child!