As I sit here weighing heavy thoughts in my head
I’m forced to scratch out a few before bed.
Like, I’m 34 with 6 kids and a wife,
how can I repay You and lay down my life
till the day that I die,
not pass my years with a sigh?
I’m shaken and perplexed with my responsibility
to live somewhere between time and eternity,
here and now collide with there and then,
not yet will come and already never end,
I have duties to fulfill, yet in You I’m fulfilled,
yet I’d never feel full unless my blood had been spilled.
I see my brethren being killed in my left eye
then I see my kids look at me in my right eye,
am I passing on materialism to my household
or do they know the Almighty is my gold?

What to tell my children? Life is hard often;
a good conscience makes your bed softer.
Lower your standards, expect less from things;
people disappoint, disappear, and it stings;
mix optimism with your pessimism,
sometimes cynicism’s dressed as realism;
being cool is elusive; time flies then you die;
trust in Christ young, God hears when you cry;
times change, people change,
God doesn’t, He’s the same;
God is light, don’t be scared of the dark;
you’re better off here than outside of the ark.

That’s what I would tell them, and believe it too,
like planting a tree and waiting for the fruit,
but knowing that hail can wreck it,
men could cut it down and wreak havoc.
I’ve been boasting in tomorrow,
thinking surely fruit will follow.
I’m not as good as I was, or as I think I am,
I hope my kids will be better, each son a better man,
“I am no better than my fathers, Lord, kill me now!”
that’s what I feel like when from the mount I come down.
Down on my knees I see better than before,
worn in my body, soul crying for more,
humbled, not settled with inverted pride,
wanting not to sit but serve Christ crucified,
I lift my dry, thirsty cup, “Fill it up! Fill me up!”
Your love is better than life, “You’re enough! You’re enough.”

What to tell my children? Life’s simple when you’re young,
but your introduction to complexity’s begun;
be thankful to God for everything,
He’s in control of people’s destinies;
in the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
choices aren’t made inside of a vacuum;
you can’t trust governments as far as you can throw ’em,
but give them your respect and whatever you owe them;
people die every second just as fast as young are born,
so you must be born again, this might just be your final warning;
chivalry hasn’t died, just look at Christ-crucified,
treat your mother right to prepare for a bride.

That, too, is what I would let them know,
and tell it to them straight in time they will grow
acquainted with my ways in Christ,
living with me as I live out eternal life.
There’s so much more to set in motion,
too much to leave riding on emotion,
not to be accomplished in a mere dead lift
or despite negligence to hope God’ll fix.
Help me, Lord, to put away childish things
and shoulder the responsibility manhood brings.
By Your grace, Lord, I can do everything,
but I can’t wait around and not do anything,
take my life, my assets, and family
let it be ever, only, all for Thee.

What to tell my children? You are my magnum opus;
my first ministry is Mom then you, I’ve shown this;
God created everything from nothing,
He can provide all your food and money;
friendship should not be treated lightly,
some leech information from you slyly;
study facial expressions and gestures,
body language reveals secrets like whispers;
enjoy things in life but be ready to share,
for marriage, kids, and death you should always prepare;
there’s enough in God’s grace to bring the millennium in
but there’s enough in you and I that we could be the man of sin.

That’s what I would tell them.