Hope this story reminds those busy working parents to give some thoughts to their children who are neglected at home.  Do give them some of your time whenever you can before you missed their best growing up years.

A Chance Not To Be Squandered

One of the most poignant songs ever written is Cat's in the Cradle by the late Harry Chapin.  The lyrics of that sad song tell the story of a father who has good intentions toward his young son, but is too busy with work.  There are always planes to catch and bills to pay.

And the father finds himself making excuses.  "When are you coming home, Dad?"  "I don't know when, but we'll get together then, son.  You know we'll have a good time then."  Despite the disappointments, the boys loves and admirers his father.  He repeatedly says:  "I'm gonna be like you, Dad.  You know I'm gonna be like you.  "Time passes, and the boy becomes a young men.

The father's priorities have changed now.  He'd like to visit his grown-up son, but now it's the son's turn to make excuses. 

"You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kids have the flu.  But it's been nice talking to you, Dad.  It's been nice talking to you.

As the father hangs up the phone, the tragedy hits him.  "He'd grown up just like me.  My boy was just like me."  I sincerely hope that all fathers who hear this wonderful song take its message to heart.

The years with our growing children are all to precious to squander.  Use them wisely, so that when the time comes to look back on our lives, we can do it with gladness instead of regret.

Related Articles:

• The Eraser - Encouraging Stories

My life as a boy was filled with violence, blood and hiding places. My siblings and I were shuffled back and forth between our violently alcoholic parents and a horribly abusive convent. We were living in a small.......
 
• Good Deeds - What Goes Around Comes Around

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools........
 
• Miracle Story - The Faith Of a Little Child

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.  She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even......
 
• The Values of Life - Where Lies Your Priority

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar......
 
• Kindness Stories - Does It Pay To Be Kind

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin  dime left, and he was hungry.  He decided he would ask for......

"She was a little startled by seeing the Cheshire Cat sitting on a bough of a tree a few yards off.  The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. 
- Would you tell me, please which way I ought to go from here? 
- That depends  a good deal on where you want to get to, said the Cat.
- I don't much care where, said Alice
- Then it doesn't matter which way you go, said the Cat."

*-- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland