So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12
Last night Gil mentioned in passing that Keller is 87 days old [today]. Doesn't that sound remarkable? For some reason, when we convert a time signature to another value, the 'logic' shifts, and we 'see' time from a completely different perspective.
I was unprepared for his next statement: "Bethany has a milestone of sorts coming up. She's almost 8000 days old."
Egads!
Immediately the Scripture came to my mind. Teach us to number our days . . .
Unto what end? That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Have my days reflected a growth in wisdom? Does my heart acknowledge that our days are fleeting upon this earth; that our life is as a vapor, or a blade of grass that withers in the sun?
This manner of thinking took me to the day this past summer when I received a phone call from my Mom.
Because of her gracious manner, I knew through her careful choice of words that what she was about to speak carried ominous weight ~ and it did. Her health was in immediate jeapordy, an unusual circumstance. I can recall being relatively calm with her on the phone, but a very short time later, completely overcome with the gravity of her words and loosing it. What?? Life without my mother? I simply could not imagine it.
Thankfully, the health issue has been resolved. With God's grace, I'll enjoy my Mom for many years to come. A valued blessing in my world.
So, this morning, Gil has placed on my desktop the excel program that tracks for him the stated value of days that his family lives:
- Keller is 87 days old
- Israel is 4,877 days old
- Aubrey is 5,475 days old
- Tif is 7,400 days old
- Beth is 7,969 days old
- Angi is 15,172 days old
- Gil is 17,375 days old
I then pour over his photo files from the '30's, '40's and upward, with a new respect and admiration for the wisdom that has been passed on from one generation to the next . . .
Gil's Dad, circa 1930's
Gil, Third Grade, circa 1960's
. . .and a fresh look at David's words in Psalm 39: 4-5:
LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.
4 comments:
Thank you for the good reminder. What I got from reading your post was the idea to not waste a moment, because our days are numbered.
Very, very true Angi, & such a good reminder.
Thank-you. Now I am getting off my computer to go hug my kids & cuddle!!! :-)
Angi- this post caused me to think ALL DAY about the passage of time-so I linked it to my blog.
Thanks for being so thought-provoking for me today!
Wow that is an amazing reality check. How effortlessly do we just allow the seconds and minutes - even years slide by without any thought to their passage. Thank you for the scriptural connection as well - much needed!
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