It hasn’t been long
Since I last heard your crying to be fed in the night
And I held you close, rocking you til you slept
Holding you for hours in my arms
Seems it was only last night.
Only a short time ago
Holding your hand tightly in mine
We went to school one cold winter day
Worried as I left you
Praying for you all the day,
Weren’t we together just today?
I watched you play football in the sun
“Throw it again, Daddy!” in earnest you called
“Can’t you play just one more time?”
How did those days pass me by?
Did we forget to hold you
Or tell you we cared?
Did we neglect to help you
Or hold you when you were scared?
Did we seem too busy to hear you
Or listen to you when you cried?
Can’t I just hold you close to my heart just one more time?
When did yesterday turn into today?
And the night turn into morning?
How have we watched you grow
And not seen a new day dawning?
Today, yesterday’s baby
Has grown into a young man
But I still long to see him
My son, can’t you play just one more time?
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3 NKJV
Written for Tom, our firstborn, in 2003 as he graduated high school and left Africa to continue studies stateside.
Tom, at right, 2023. Time flies!
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