What Would a Song and a Rainbow Have to Do with Parenting?
Some who read this will know (or at least know of) Lance Cordle. I became acquainted with him when Donna and I moved to western Kentucky almost thirty years ago. Lance had already been preaching for the church of Christ in Calvert City, Kentucky for about seven years then and continued to do so until about a year ago.
My brother and very good friend is now preaching in Atwood, Tennessee. In the “you can’t make this stuff up department,” Atwood is where he moved from when he moved to Calvert City all those years ago.
I look forward each week to getting the church bulletin “The Atwood Ambassador” online each week. As was the case when I would read Lance’s thoughts when he was at Calvert City, I am informed, challenged, and blessed by what I read.
A regular feature of “The Atwood Ambassador” is the script of a short segment that Lance produces for a radio station in nearby Huntingdon, Tennessee. I’m sure that people who listen to that station look forward to hearing Lance and his “Timely Thoughts for Daily Living.”
The following is one of those recent scripts/bulletin items:
In his popular song, “Cat’s in the Cradle,” Harry Chapin spoke of a father who had no time for his son. As the years went by, the father promised to spend time with his son, but he never got around to it. What’s more, the son grew up to be just like him. We MUST take the time to be with our children or the time will slip away! Patricia Clifford wrote, “The work will wait while you show the child a rainbow, but the rainbow will not wait while you do the work.”
I’ve known, thought about, and been challenged by “Cat’s in the Cradle” since it was released. I’ve even used it or referred to it in sermons and classes.
Our oldest child was about four months when the song “hit the charts.” I remember thinking that I never wanted to be a dad like the one in the song.
Now, our oldest grandchild is not far from being the same age that I was when I first heard “Cat’s in the Cradle.” I’m at the age now where about all I can do is look back and wonder how well I did as a father when our children were growing up. I’m not always pleased when I do that.
If you are a young parent or if you know any young parents, I hope that you will listen to “The Cat’s in the Cradle” or find the lyrics and read them. I also hope that every parent of children of any age will consider them as various facets and roles in life are prioritized.
If the words to a song aren’t enough to challenge us, maybe the quote that Lance used about the rainbow will.
“The work will wait while you show the child a rainbow, but the rainbow will not wait while you do the work.”
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
