Soap Box

Posted on 01.02.2017

Precious Time

As I write this, my first column of the new year, I'm sitting at DFW on December 28, waiting on a connecting flight to Colorado, where we will hang out in the Rocky Mountains for a couple of months on our yearly vacation, the other ten months being the touring season for the CDB.

We always look forward to it, as it�s the only time of year we take any extended amount of time off. The mountains are a great place to unwind and get ready for another intense, but most enjoyable, period of keeping schedules, bouncing around the country on buses, playing our music and entertaining the good folks who have made it possible for me to live my dream for almost 60 years, for which I am most grateful to God and man.

I don't know if it�s the time of year, the fact that I'm allowed down time enough for my thoughts to catch up with me, or just an old fashioned case of nostalgia, but I have been in a sentimental mood for the last few days.

I have had good reason to notice the passage of time, as I just had my 80th birthday back in October and the annual employees Christmas party provides my yearly reminder of just how fast the CDB kids and grandkids have grown up.

I got up before daylight this morning and decided to turn the Christmas lights on, and it dawned on me this is the last time I will see them this year. When we get back off vacation they'll all be dismantled and packed away until next Christmas season.

The point I'm going around my elbow to get to my thumb to make, is that time is the one thing in our lives that can't be bought, rewound, relived or reclaimed. We only get one shot at each day and each day is unique, a one of a kind event, a 24-hour period of opportunity and chances that may well never present themselves again in our lifetime.

We've all heard about, "being at the right place at the right time" when fortune smiles and a chance coming together of the elements combine to make something wonderful happen. It could be finding a business opportunity or maybe even meeting the love of your life or seeing a meteor shower on a clear night.

For over forty years, I have called my employee's mothers on Christmas Eve to wish them a Merry Christmas and spend a few personal moments with them, many of whom I've known for decades.

It was a task that - at one time - took up a good portion of my Christmas Eve, but as the years go by, the list gets shorter and this year I was surprised at what a small mount of time it took me to go through the list.

There is an old song that goes "give me the roses while I live", and if you have a parent or loved one who is getting on in years, giving them a call or dropping by occasionally is a good thing. You never know when it could be the last chance you get to tell them you love them.

Since we have no control over how many days God allows us, the only way we can combat time is to live every day to it's fullest, to wring out every last drop, to slow it down with more attention to what�s going on in the present, less regret about the past and less worry about what�s going to happen tomorrow.

You may not even be here tomorrow, so why spend a day you know you have being concerned about a day you don't know if you'll have at all?

Whether it's cloudy, raining, stormy or one of God's beautiful masterpieces, it's today!

Live it!

Love it!

And may you never run out of dreams.

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, our police and the peace of Jerusalem.

God Bless America

� Charlie Daniels

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Precious Time
Amen! Thank you for the important reminder as we begin a new year. Life is short, God is good, make every day count!
Posted by Scott
Time
I love each of your posts. They are extremely encouraging as well as a blessing. Thank you for sharing your heart with us individuals whom you do not know very personally. I have said this many times about your soap boxes, I will continue to say it and i am saying it again, you are the voice for us common, those who do not have a voice yet and those people who would like to speak maybe just unsure how to articulate it. Whose gonna fill your shoes when God calls you home? I hope God gives you you another 30 years or so on planet earth. You are blessing with these posts as well as your music and the many shows you do for our troops and special needs people. Thank you again for listening to God and being that voice for us. God bless you.
Posted by Michael Todd
Thank you!
Very inspirational. This reminds me of a saying:. worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere.
Posted by Jean
Appreciative and Inspired
Mrn Daniels, I always appreciate your words of wisdom. May the Good Lord bless you beyond measure in 2017! All things are small compared to God's Love... Keep playin' it and keep preachin' it.
Posted by Ron
Charlie's letter
Thoroughly enjoyef words of wisdom. Happy New Year!!belated happy birthday 80hard to believe.
Posted by Gena
Hi.
Hi Charlie Daniels, my name is Kyndal. I am a big fan of you!!! I just want to tell you thank you for this reminder. It is so very true. Again thank you Charlie for this reminder. God bless you. And I will pray for our troops. That is one of my most favorite things to do. And I feel like it's something that God has called me to do, and it's something that I love to do and it's something that I love to do and it's something that is very close to my heart.
Posted by Kyndal
Another day for our veterans with PTSD.
As always you write the things that really are important. Happy Belated Birthday! I was sitting here, you may remind me from about 6months ago, maybe not, but I hope so. I commented on a post about the loss of so many of our veterans over the last 7 years. And I have continued to do more research in this matter. And it is true, every day, time its self is precious. And if you recall I touched on the loss of our veterans with PTSD. I have found that most, if not ALL of the medications that are prescribed in the treatment of PTSD have a side effect of suicide. I will never give up the fight for our veterans with PTSD. I have found that if Marijuana was prescribed, close to 68% of the symptoms could be leveled out. Imagine, a natural plant, that does so many things, from curing cancer, to stopping seizures, can also stop more than half of the symptoms of PTSD. The problem here is, Marijuana's classification. But,Dr. Sue Sisley, a psychiatrist who practices in Arizona, explains that treating PTSD poses a challenge because of the complex array of symptoms. Those who suffer from the disorder are often prescribed 5 or 6 different medications at a time, she says. �PTSD is such a complex syndrome. It�s not just flashbacks and nightmares. It�s also depression and anxiety and increased startle response and this whole array of symptoms that are not easily managed with one or two medications.� Based on her experience with patients, Dr. Sisley believes medical marijuana holds unique promise for managing the disorder. �The truth is that marijuana can treat the whole spectrum of PTSD symptoms with this one medication,� she explains. �The proof is in the clinical response. We�re seeing patients who are able to walk away from a lot of their psychiatric medications and their opioids and simply manage their symptoms with one drug � marijuana.� This would sure put a huge dent in Big Pharma's pocket book. It is where the real fight begins I think. As I am just an ordinary person, I dont know where to look for someone that could help me. I am thinking perhaps, I dont even know if this is possible, but I wont know unless I try. If all the medications, and as Dr. Sisley states, they are on 5 or more medications for the treatment of PTSD. So, if all those medications come with a side effect of suicidal tendancies, its my thinking that in effect, our veterans are being prescribed death, as the treatment and cure for PTSD. What is in my thoughts, is perhaps a petition, to get mandates some how, either banning, or what ever govenor needs to be attached to the precribing of these medications. Its only logical , that if someone is on 6 medications, that all have suicidal tendencies attached, they are 6 times more likely to act upon those tendencies brought on as a side effect. My thoughts are there needs to be some type of govenor to this. My personal thought is to stop this practice, its not working, and we are loosing our veterans to this. while I know I cant stop this all together, and Big Pharma is a big boy to take on, But something must be done. And someone needs to speak up, and take action. If there are any readers, or any resource anyone can direct me to, I would be for ever in yours and their debt. I am not sure if its allowed for me to post my email, but anyone can contact me on my facebook Colleen Marie Brooks. Thank you for listening. Because yes, Time is precious , we dont know the number of our days, and medications should not cut short those days, that leads one to believe that PTSD is a death sentence. And that is not true. But we need to find a way to stop the current treatments. Thank you Charlie Daniels... one of the last men standing that remembers the way men walked, when my Grand Father still walked this earth. Much Love and Respect Colleen M.Brooks
Posted by Colleen
Ronnie Van Zant
More of a question than anything else as I agree w/ Mr. Daniels politically. I'm curious if Mr. Daniels might share a photo of himself & RVZ & or share some memories of the original band. ***NOTE*** We have been looking for a photo of Charlie and Ronnie for a while now, and have been unable to find one and, sadly to say, one may not actually exist. - TeamCDB
Posted by Phillip
Preccious Time _ Time for a tour of Australia
Hi Charlie Fantastic to hear that there are still some employers who cares for their employees to include the families of employees in celebrations, calling the mothers at Christmas is a special thought. I saw your concert at Panther in Sydney some years back. With advancing time I am wondering if you will be coming to Australia some time soon. My now 18 year old son would love to see you also. your music has had some special messages for me, starting with 'the devil' the devil for me was the performance enhancing drugs that competitors around me had taken in high school sport. I won in those days clean, later seeing the damage done to those who took the drugs I feel I won twice. Really hope to see you play live again in Australia Brett
Posted by Brett
Time for everything
Amen, Amen & Amen Charlie, embrace every moment like it might be your last. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 King James Version 3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. God Bless Plowboy PS to Coleen, Marijuana was created by God, however big drug companies worship the almighty dollar and that is why the feds keep marijuana illegal, drain the swamp and get rid of lobbyists.
Posted by Plowboy
Remembering murders in Knoxville
Charlie, I thought you might want to know that this week is the 10 year anniversary of the kidnapping, rape, torture and murder of two young people here in Knoxville. Several years ago, you had written in your soapbox postings that you didn't even know about this as it had apparently received little coverage on the national news. I thought you might want to publicize this again. https://www.wbir.com/news/local/10-years-later-remembering-christian-newsom/381967577
Posted by Old
Life IS Short!
Charlie, this is sure true...life is SOOO short, in the scheme of things! Only the Lord knows when He will call us home to be with Him, so, we should live Each day as if it will be our Last day on planet earth...that's why I try to have You see Me Every time you're near (not to mention your awesome performances)! ;) :) May the Lord bless you & Hazel with a wonderful time together in Colorado.
Posted by VAL
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