by Charles  Dale  Gray

Time is of the essence
The wise of old have said
There ‘s no time like the present
From the prudent we have read

Our days on earth are numbered
And like sands upon the shore
Sift quickly through the hands of time
To be seen again no more

Like our wages counted carefully
Our time must too be spent
In measured payments well thought out
Toward principled events

Time spent with a neighbor
Whose fence has broken down
Or time spent with your toddling son
Whose face now wears a frown

Time spent in the service
Of our fellow man in need
Is time invested wisely
And time well spent indeed

One day the books will open
To reveal each hour spent
In pursuit of earthly pleasures
And selfish merriment

But the books will also tell
Of each second that we pay
In lifting those downtrodden souls
We meet along the way

Yes time is of the essence
And the price we all must pay
If we hope to merit time with God
And live with Him one day