Priorities, Time is Fleeting
Read the book "Tuesdays at Morries," a true story.
Have you thought about the priorities in your life? Are your marriage, children, and family your top priorities?
"It’s become quite clear to me as I’ve been sick. If you don’t have the support, love, caring, and concern you get from a family, you don’t have much. Love is so supremely important." - From Morrie Schwartz in Mitch Albom's book, "Tuesday's With Morrie."
"The time of life is short; To spend that shortness basely were too long." -William Shakespeare, King Henry IV, Part 1.
Lyrics Harry Chapin, "The Cat's in The Cradle."
"My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you, dad"
"You know I'm gonna be like you."
I will never forget the night when my children were born. Unexpectedly, they were twins. The gynecologist believed my wife was pregnant with one large infant. Fifty years ago, it was before the technology that would have told us early on in the pregnancy that we would have twins. Now, they are mature married women with careers. I am 81 years old, and my wife died of pancreatic cancer almost ten years ago. Where does time go? It feels like my life went by in a flash.
Harry Chapin Song, 1974" The Cat's in the Cradle."
Harry Chapin died in a car crash in 1981 and left behind his wife Sandra, who wrote a poem that inspired the song. His death is a poignant reminder of the importance of the song's message.
Throughout the song, we witness the evolution of a relationship as it transitions from childhood to adulthood. As a child, the son idolizes his father, yearning to spend time with him and emulate his actions. However, the father is consistently absent, preoccupied with his work and the daily struggles of life. The recurring refrain, "the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon," alludes to the simple childhood game the son desires to share with his father and the material possessions that come to stand in for his presence.
Time does not stand still, and the song poignantly reveals a role reversal. As the son matures, he begins to mirror his father's behavior, consumed by his own life and unable to make time for his aging parent. When the father, now with an abundance of time on his hands, reaches out to reconnect, the son's echo of "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time," delivers a profound sense of irony and regret.
The beauty and the tragedy of "Cat's in the Cradle" lies in its universality. It forces us to confront our priorities and the delicate balance between ambition and our connections with loved ones. In a world filled with distractions and endless responsibilities, the song is a cautionary tale about the danger of assuming we always have tomorrow, ultimately encouraging us to value the present moments spent with those we hold dear. It invites us to step back and ask ourselves if we are making the time, for those relationships might be irrevocably altered as easily as the fleeting cradle swings back and forth.
