If you listen quietly
You can hear the babies cry
Their Daddies have all moved away
And no one's told them why
Just because they are so small
We think they do not know
What it is we've done to them
When we decide to go
That's a lie we tell ourselves
To make ourselves believe
That it really doesn't matter
When we decide to leave
Not only does it matter
Hear me when I say
They don't need us just on weekends
They need us every day
As I sit and write these words
I can't describe the pain
As I recall the things I did
I relive it once again
I cannot even see the page
My eyes so full of tears
Still I cannot cry them dry
After all these years
I love my sons so very much
But I did not put them first
I was just so selfish
That I behaved my worst
I left them with their Mommies
I left them all alone
I saw them on the weekends
And sometimes on the phone
Why did I leave my sons behind
Did I think I could be free
If I blamed it on their mothers
When the fault belonged to me
Listen when I tell you
These words I speak are true
There's no freedom in the prison
That your acts create for you
The day will come when you will see
What you have done so wrong
You'll know your babies didn't get
What they needed all along
You'll realize that it's your fault
And there's nothing you can do
You will not get a second chance
To see your babies through
Before you know it they are grown
And their choices aren't so good
Because their Daddy didn't teach them
All the things he should
Oh, they will always love you
But that just makes it worse
For in your heart you'll always know
You've given them a curse
And in your heart you'll always know
That love is not enough
You need to teach them every day
And do the "Daddy" stuff
They need you there to laugh with them
To hold them when they cry
To hug them and to kiss them
Make them the apple of your eye
I often wonder what went on
Inside their little heart
When I packed up and went away
And ripped their lives apart
If you leave your babies
That's exactly what you do
Then one day you realize
Just what you've put them through
Then every time you see a child
Your heart will start to swell
You'll remember what you've done
It's your little piece of hell
There'll be nothing you can do
To satisfy the guilt
It's like a dagger in your heart
That's buried to the hilt
Every time you see a Daddy
Doing what is right
You will know that you have failed
And you can never make it right
Every night when you lie down
You'll hear your babies cry
You'll taste the salty teardrops
That trickle from your eye
You'll ask the Lord for mercy
And He'll forgive you too
He'll wrap His arms around you
And He will help you through
Still you have to face the sunrise
Each and every day
Always knowing in your heart
It was you who walked away
My Father up in heaven
Has forgiven me that sin
But I cannot leave this prison
That I am living in
I can only promise
To be here every day
So when my children call on me
They'll know I'm back to stay
Even then the pain persists
It never goes away
I'm shackled to this prison
I live in every day
I have no one I can blame
The fault is only mine
I'm the one who made the choice
To leave my sons behind
So many other Daddies
Have done the same as I
And if they listen quietly
They can hear their babies cry
They can hear them crying
No matter where they roam
Yet all those tears would turn to joy
If Daddy would come home
I heard another baby cry
Just the other day
She told me that her Daddy
Had packed and moved away
I went off by myself and cried
Knowing I'm the one
I caused this problem long ago
...............Her Daddy is my son
That's why this is a prison
I am living in
Because my former selfishness
Has hurt someone again
Even though the years have passed
And I have changed my ways
I cannot reverse the damage
Of my younger days
So in this prison I will stay
Until my days are through
Always wishing I could change
What I cannot undo
If you are a Daddy
Do not move away
They need you more than weekends
They need you every day
Every day that you are gone
Is a day you cant retrieve
And it soon creates a prison
That you can never leave
If I could do it all again
I would not move away
I'd spend some time with all my kids
Each and every day
DropnHook@aol.com
10/4/99
When Jesus Looks
By Chick Velasco
DropnHook@aol.com
When Jesus looks upon my life
What picture does He see
Does He see His own reflection
Or does He just see me
Does He see His likeness
The product of His hand
Or just another Christian
Who never took a stand
Does He see a child of God
A child that He set free
Living life to honor Him
Or does He just see me
What about the other folks
I meet along the way
Do I show them Jesus
To brighten up their day
When someone looks into my eyes
Can they truly see
That calm and gentle peace of God
That dwells inside of me
When I reach out and shake a hand
Is He right there in my grip
Can they feel that strength from God
That steadies when I slip
When folks are in my presence
Do they know His Spirit's there
Can they see that He's the one
Who guides me everywhere
When other people think of me
What is on their mind
Do they think of Jesus Christ
So gentle and so kind
I try to be like Jesus
Every single day
Spreading love and kindness
All along my way
I'm afraid that I have failed
I could not pass the test
Deep inside my heart I know
I haven't done my best
I have had to fight my flesh
Since the day that I was born
It's always causing trouble
And being such a thorn
That's why His Spirit dwells in me
He's helping me to learn
In every situation
Where I need to turn
He knew I'd never pass the test
That's why He took my place
He gave His life to save my soul
He suffered my disgrace
Now I try to be like Him
I must present Him well
So other folks will want His gift
And turn their backs on hell
Other folks should see the joy
That Christ has given me
They should want to have it too
Especially since it's free
They should begin to ask me
What is it they must do
Just how it is they go about
Getting Jesus too
Then I get to tell them
This wondrous gift is free
It only takes a humble heart
A prayer on bended knee
Someday when I'm face to face
With the Lord who set me free
Will He see His own reflection
Or will He just see me
cv/1999
Copyright is owned by Chick Velasco
Not to be published without written premission from the author.
Standing At The Crossroads