Do you remember the old song “Cats in the Cradle”? I remember growing up as a teenage boy in 1974 hearing this song, especially the words. Even though it is a secular song—at the time I was not a Christian—it does have a profound message. Perhaps you can relate to the song. Every working parent needs to hear it. As a matter of fact, it would do us all good to hear it!

The origin of the song is found below:

“‘Cats in the Cradle’ by Harry Chapin tells a poignant story about a father too busy with work to spend time with his son, only for the roles to reverse in adulthood when the son, now busy with his own life, also has no time for his father, revealing the tragic cycle of missed connections and the father realizing his son has grown up ‘just like him.’ Inspired by a poem from Chapin’s wife, Sandy, the song serves as a cautionary tale about prioritizing work over family and the fleeting nature of time.”

Founder of Focus on the Family, Christian psychologist James Dobson used to refer to this song on his radio broadcast often. Honestly, it would move my heart to tears. How about yours?

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” (Psa 90:12).

Here are the words to the first stanza of the song:

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon Little boy blue and the man in the moon

‘When you coming home, dad?’ ‘I don’t know when We’ll get together then, you know we’ll have a good time then’”

Obviously, the penetrating message of the song is about a BUSY lifestyle….. Sometimes, too busy. Not to mention, that life is very short. Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday you were younger and couldn’t hardly wait to get older?

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph 5:16).

As time passes, our children grow up faster than you can blink your eye, just like we did, as seen in the next stanza.

There is a small window to influence and spend time with our family that seems to close fairly quickly! Look back on your life.

“For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away,” (James 4:14).

Next stanza:

If you haven’t experienced this, you probably will someday in a similar fashion.

Keeping the balance between job and family is challenging! Jesus must come first!! He enables us to know how to keep our priorities in the right order. 

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

 So the Main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing!

Listen to this part….

Do you agree that some things are more “caught than taught”? While this earthly life is quickly fading, eternity is swiftly approaching. Missed opportunities are like scrambled eggs; You can’t unscramble them once they have been scrambled. But we can refocus. Move on. And do what we can now. “…but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” (Phil 3:13) This thought occurred to me as my friend and I were talking about this song.

On earth we may not can get together, but in heaven, we will get together! “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess 4:16,17)

For those who are reading this and feeling like scrambled eggs, stop looking in the rear view mirror of life when it comes to your family and friends, start looking to the future.

Purpose in your heart, with the help of the Lord, to seize the opportunity now. Do what you can! And especially, share and prepare all of those you love for heaven.

Do you know why? Because in heaven,

WE’LL GET TOGETHER THEN, YOU KNOW WE WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME THEN!

Please forward this to every person you know. To God be the glory!