Contributed by Coach Ken Sartini
I always had 2-3 “Thoughts for the Day” for every practice. I would read one before practice started and one somewhere in the middle if I thought they needed a short break and a good message. But, I always saved ONE for the end of practice, I always picked one of the players to read it. There were times they asked me what that meant and of course I would throw it back to them first… asking them what THEY thought it meant.
This one day, I had this article and picked a senior to read it because of the message involved. It was obvious that he was moved by it from the tone of his voice, he was having problems keeping it together. When he was done, he turned to me and said…..
” I wish you would have warned me about this, it really got to me. ” The team was very quiet and I could tell that this message had gotten through to them too.
” IF ”
IF I knew it would be the last time that I would see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
IF I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and a kiss and call you back for one more.
IF I knew it would be the last time I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word so I could play it back day after day.
IF I knew it would be the last time I could spare an extra minute or two,
To stop and say “I love You,” Instead of assuming you KNOW I do.
IF I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day…..
Well, I’m sure you’ll have so many more, So I can just let this one slip away.
For surely there’s always tomorrow To make up for an oversight, And we always
get a second chance to make everything right. There will always be another
day to say our “I love you’s” and certainly there’s another chance to say our
“Anything I can do’s?”
BUT just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get,I’d like to say how
much I love you And I hope we never forget that …. Tomorrow is not promised
to anyone, Young or old alike. And today may be the last chance to get to hold
your loved one tight.
SO if you’re waiting for tomorrow, Why not do it today?
For IF tomorrow never comes, You’ll surely regret the day.
That you didn’t take that extra time for a smile. a hug or a kiss.
AND you were too busy to grant someone, What turned out to be their one
last wish. So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear. Tell
them how much you love them and that you’ll always hold them dear.
Take the time to say “I’m sorry,” “Please forgive me.” Thank you,” or
“it’s ok,” and IF tomorrow never comes, You’ll have NO REGRETS about today.
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