When I was young I had so much fun. I scurried and ran about.
       I ran and hid, played many games, thinking time would never run out.
Christmas seemed five years apart and birthdays, two or three.
       I fought lions, tigers, monsters and villains who were always bigger than me.
Why, I was the champion of the neighborhood and the strongest for miles around.
       When I walked, my steps were loud and booming, as thunder from the ground.
But the days were so long that by mid-afternoon I had to lay down and sleep.
       And though I never intended to hurt my mom, many times I made her weep.
But as time traveled on, I became older and now I was going to school.
       There I made many friends and some thought I was funny and cool.
I learned to drive cars, received a few tickets and learned to run in clicks.
       But when school was over and real life began, I suffered from most of my tricks.

Soon I was twenty, thirty, forty and more.
       Life had sped past and middle age was at my door.
I looked in the mirror and to my surprise,
       wrinkles and gray hair appeared before my eyes.
I smiled and said, "Time’s running out on you, son.
       You had better hurry up and get things done."
But when I turned and walked away those words never left my thoughts.
       suddenly realized that those words were truer than they were not.

Where had life so speedily gone?
      How had time so quickly moved on?
I had good goals but what had I really accomplished in life?
       I chased after this and that, but had I done what was right?
What about my wife and family and what about their needs?
       Where had I been from the time my children were crawling on their knees?
Why did things so important before, now seem so insignificant?
       And how was I going to change to accomplish the truly important?
I must get busy before time runs out, before the clock strikes twelve.
       I must accomplish what needs to be done. The unimportant must be shelved.
I must do it before I return to God and have to report my sad state of affair.
       And what of you my friend, ...when you find yourself standing there?
When life’s battles are over and the final race has been run,
       will the Lord be able to say, "Well done faithful servant, well done?"