Each one of us are experts at putting things off until tomorrow – and that’s especially so at this time of year. Research suggests that less than 10% of New Year resolutions make it through to the end of January and only 1% through to December.  Are you putting off for tomorrow what you could, or should, be doing today? As I reflect on this myself, I’m determined not to make the same mistakes as last year. The words of this poem by Norma Cornett Marek might enable all of us to make a wonderful start to the coming New Year and not ‘put off’ the important things in life:


If I knew it would be the last time that I’d 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 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 them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute

To stop and say “I love you,” instead of assuming you would 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 let just 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 just right.

There will always be another day to say “I love you,”

And certainly there’s another chance to say our “Anything I can do?”

 So, just in case tomorrow never comes, and today is all I get,

I’d like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,

And today may be the last chance you 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 time to say “I’m sorry,”  “Please forgive me,” “Thank you,” or “It’s okay!”

And, if tomorrow never comes, you’ll have no regrets about today.


May God’s richest blessing be upon you and your family in the year that lies ahead.

This is a copy of my article for the JANUARY 2015 edition of the Billericay ‘Around Town Magazine’ however, it is a timeless message as we enter every New Year.