The song Cat’s in the Cradle flashed through my mind yesterday when my son rolled in from college to spend what will probably be his last summer at home with mom and dad. His sophomore year is now history. The rest of his time as an undergraduate student will no doubt fly by even faster. His brothers have grown taller and look more like men since he left for school last August.

It is Mother’s Day today, and Harry Chapin is on my mind again. At the Granbury Church of Christ, Mother’s Day is marked by a baby blessing. We pray for our all of our young families with newborns. Today there were 11 children who have been in the last year. We honored each of these families in the service and presented them with a personalized quilt to mark this important milestone. It was a very moving experience, but Harry Chapin was never far away in my thoughts…

Chapin and his wife Sandy composed the epic song, Cat’s in the Cradle, which was released in 1974. Many of our young parents at church this morning were born sometime after 1974, so maybe it is good idea to share the lyrics…Its message is poignant.

The Cat’s In the Cradle
Harry Chapin
A child arrived just the other day,He came to the world in the usual way.But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.He learned to walk while I was away. And he was talking ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew,He’d say, “I’m gonna be like you, dad.You know I’m gonna be like you.”
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,But we’ll get together then.You know we’ll have a good time then.”
My son turned ten just the other day.He said, “Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let’s play.Can you teach me to throw?” I said, “Not today,I got a lot to do.” He said, “That’s ok.”And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed,Said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah.You know I’m gonna be like him.”
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,But we’ll get together then.You know we’ll have a good time then.”
Well, he came from college just the other day,So much like a man I just had to say,”Son, I’m proud of you. Can you sit for a while?”He shook his head, and he said with a smile,”What I’d really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.See you later. Can I have them please?”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,Little boy blue and the man in the moon.”When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when,But we’ll get together then, dad.You know we’ll have a good time then.”
I’ve long since retired and my son’s moved away.I called him up just the other day.I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind.”He said, “I’d love to, dad, if I could find the time.You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kid’s got the flu,But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad.It’s been sure nice talking to you.”And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,He’d grown up just like me.My boy was just like me.
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon,Little boy blue and the man in the moon.”When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when,But we’ll get together then, dad.You know we’ll have a good time then.”

During the course of the service today my eyes kept flashing back between the families with new babies that we were honoring, and three boys sitting on the back row who share my last name! Actually they are not boys anymore. They are all young men, and I had to gather my composure, because…. A child arrived just the other day. He came to the world in the usual way.