One member of an immensely talented group of musicians, Celtic Thunder, turned in an awe-inspiring and moving rendition of a beloved folk song from the 1970s, “Cats in the Cradle.”
Being a parent is one of life’s greatest blessings. Children are a true gift from the good Lord. Those little bundles of joy add much happiness and love to one’s life. But, as every parent understands, children do not stay little for long. They have a terrible habit of growing up, moving out and creating a life for themselves, separate from mom and dad.
A parent’s time with their child or children must be treasured and cherished. Children are only small and dependent on their mother and father for a limited period. In the blink of an eye, a child is graduating from high school, packing up their belongings and backing out of the driveway for the last time.
“Cats in the Cradle” is a tune about how time does not stop for any reason or person. The song’s heartbreaking lyrics detail how a father welcomed a son into the world. But, because of the busy nature of life, the father continually put spending time with his child on the back burner.
The child continually tried to catch up and spend time with his father. However, something always came up that distracted the father from his son. In an instant, the child has graduated from college, moved out and has a family of his own.
Now, sadly, the tables have been turned on the father. He has retired and wants nothing more than to spend time with his offspring. But the son is too busy for his dad. The young man is imitating what he witnessed his father doing as a child.
Despite the sad and heartbreaking nature of the lyrics, the vocal performance is outstanding. The packed auditorium seems to agree. They gave the performers a rousing and thunderous round of applause.
“Cats in the Cradle” is a tune that reminds us of the fleeting nature of time and how we all have a limited supply of that precious commodity. The next question is: what will we do with the time we’ve been given?
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
