“Til You Can’t” By: Justin March

“You can tell your old man you’ll do some largemouth fishing another time.  You just got too much on your plate to bait and cast a line.  You can always put a rain check in his hand, ’til you can’t.

You can keep putting off forever with that girl who’s heart you hold.  Swearing that you’ll ask some day further down the road.  You can always put a diamond on her hand, ’til you can’t.

There’s a box of greasy parts sitting in the truck of that ’65.  Still waiting on you and your granddad to bring it back to life.  You can always get around to fixing up that Pontiac, ’til you can’t.”

“If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance.

If you got a dream, chase it, ’cause a dream won’t chase you back.

If you’re gonna love somebody, hold ’em as long and as strong and as close as you can.

‘Til you can’t.”

I had the privilege of watching Cody Johnson perform this hit song live last night.  The sky above Empower Field was beautiful, the crowd was electric, and my wife and I were enjoying this moment with our dearest friends.  I was feeling blessed to share this experience with 53,000 other screaming fans, and I was humbled by the amazing performances each and every artist portrayed.  And although every minute of this evening was amazing, this tune is the one that still resonates within me this morning.

As a young boy, I grew up without a Father.  My Mom was this amazing person who worked her fingers to the bone, and although she was often tired and worn out, she always made it a point to spend time with her children.  I have so many fond memories of camping, fishing, boating, swimming, bike riding, bowling, and going to the movies with her, and nothing could ever be said or done to make me regret the way I grew up in Nebraska.  And although time was limited and money was tight, we seemed to always find ways to encapsulate those free moments and make the most of what we had.

Before my Mom met my Step-Father, there was an amazing man who took my hand and helped mend the wounds left by the absence of my Father.  I know he struggled in his own personal relationships, but he always took me under his wing and made me feel special.  He took me to stock car races, let me hang out at the Ford dealership he worked for, and allowed me to ride along when he had to go pick up cars for his customers in Omaha, Lincoln, and even Iowa.  We would drive by his corn fields that his son and grandchildren now tended.  We would stop at the sale barn in town and he would teach me about cattle trading and negotiations.  And on those special days when he was feeling a little generous, we might even stop by the Dairy Queen for an ice cream treat.

I will never forget the way I felt when my Grandfather passed away.  Just weeks before Jessica and I were to be married, we got the news that he was gone.  He had meant so much to me, and although I had so many precious memories I could fall back on, I couldn’t help but think I didn’t spend enough time with him.  And although he was not a touchy-feely kind of man, I had some regrets that I never told him I loved him and what he meant to me growing up.  It was something I really wish I would have expressed, but I never thought about it until I no longer had the chance.

God has blessed me with many amazing people in this life.  My Step-Father, who I now call Dad, has become one of my best friends and advisors.  My brother and sister are incredible siblings who have stuck by me in the hardest of times, even when I didn’t deserve it.  My wife is a gift from God, and I thank him everyday for allowing this loving woman to journey with me and shed her light to brighten my path.  We have been blessed with three unbelievable children, and watching them grow and make their way in this world brings me happiness and joy.  And all the friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, in-laws, and mentors that God has been gracious enough to share with me have had an impact on my life that is impossible to express in words.

I was a selfish man for many years, and if I am honest with myself, I did not tell enough of these people how much they meant to me.  I did not take the time to capture every moment I could have spent with those that are now gone, and my fond memories can at times come with regrets for not doing so.  And although it stings when I realize the events and situations I passed on were actually precious opportunities to spend with those I loved, I must not wallow in the regrets of what could have been.  Instead, I need to focus on the times we did spend together and cherish those memories for as long as my healthy mind allows.

So, as Cody Johnson sang, “Til You Can’t”, I was reminded of those that are now gone and the times we got to spend together.  But, I was also reminded of the people in my life that are still here and how I need to make sure I capture every opportunity available to be with them.  Because there will be a day when either I or they will be gone, and the moments we should have seized will no longer be available.

I am sitting at this computer and relishing in the amazing night we just had.  We took the opportunity to be with friends and make lasting memories I will never forget.  We did not make excuses because the event was expensive, the place was crowded, or the fear of COVID 19 should hold us back.  And as I listened to “Til You Can’t”, tears streamed down my face, and I knew we had captured a moment we would cherish forever.

Tell those dear to you how much you love them.  Call your parents, spend time with your children, and laugh with friends.  Dance in the streets, vacation to exotic places, and experience God’s beautiful creations.  And live a life that elates your soul, makes you happy, and is pleasing to our one and only Maker.  Because only He knows how much time we have left on this earth, and the last thing we want to be holding onto is the time and words we should have shared before we can’t.