The Healing Journey

September 25, 2025

When we pay our respects at a wake or go to a funeral Mass, we often find ourselves saying, “It goes by so fast.” Or “Where did the years go?” Or “It seems like only yesterday.”

And in those moments of self-reflection, we often vow to make the most of the rest of our lives, however long or short they may be.

As painful as funerals are, they can be a reminder of the shortness of life and the importance of cherishing each day and living it to the fullest, filling it with charitable deeds, love, kindness, and friendship.

The song “The Day Is Short” offers a reminder for us to make that resolution and stick to it so that when the end comes for each of us, we can say we lived not only a full life, but a generous and compassionate and loving life for others.

Hear Jearlyn Steele sing “The Day Is Short” from the movie “Prairie Home Companion” https://youtu.be/mmEQ4RhCWf4?si=edl71XJLtpPPW0bJ

The Day Is Short

The day is short.
The night is long.
Why do we work so hard to get what we don’t even want?

We work so hard to get
ahead of the game.
Work half our lives until we’ve won.
And then one day, we sit at the edge of our bed and think,
“Lord, what have I done?” Oh…

The day is short.
The night is long.
Why do we work so hard to get what we don’t even want?

Man in a suit comes home and kisses his babies goodbye.
“Daddy’s gotta go on a trip, Honey, oh no, don’t you cry.”
He’s gone for a week, and then he’s home for a day.
Well, pretty soon the babies not going to cry when daddy’s gone away.

The day is short.
The night is long.
Why do you work so hard to get what you don’t even want?

Now listen to this. You know, we go to the mall and we go from store to store, yeah.
Everybody seems to be wasting time until Death walks through the door.
And then you look at all your merchandise and you see.
We’ve paid too high a price, you’ll see….

The day is short.
Oh, the night is long…
Why do you work so hard to get what you don’t even want?
©Jearlyn Steele

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