3 Things You Need In Life

This post is going to be very short. The message is very clear. It applies to churches. It applies to communities. It applies to everyone!  Read the lyrics to the song, then read my short reflection at the end.


Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes wrote the song, "If I Had a Hammer"

IF I HAD A HAMMER

If I had a hammer,
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening,
All over this land.

I'd hammer out danger,
I'd hammer out a warning,
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

If I had a bell,
I'd ring it in the morning,
I'd ring it in the evening,
All over this land.
I'd ring out danger,
I'd ring out a warning
I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters,

All over this land.
If I had a song,
I'd sing it in the morning,
I'd sing it in the evening,
All over this land.
I'd sing out danger,
I'd sing out a warning
I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

Well I got a hammer,
And I got a bell,
And I got a song to sing, all over this land.
It's the hammer of Justice,
It's the bell of Freedom,
It's the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,

All over this land.
It's the hammer of Justice,
It's the bell of Freedom,
It's the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

Words by Lee Hays
Music by Pete Seeger (1949)
TRO - (c) 1958 (renewed) & 1962 (renewed) Ludlow Music, Inc., New York, NY

Just the other day, I was riding in the car with my kids - age 5 and 8.  They wanted to listen to "old music." I suppose it's all relative. 

I put on this song. It's amazing how some songs are just timeless. They loved it. 

When the song was over, my 8 year old son, who often has a way of surprising me with his profound thoughts...and fart jokes (I never know which is coming), said "You know...Those are 3 of the most important things you need in life - Justice, freedom, and love."

Dad learned a lesson - and I hope you do too!