Numbering Days

So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
—Psalm 90:12 NKJV

It has been a dreary and rain-soaked morning, but as four grandchildren tumble out of the van and into my parents’ yard, the sun breaks through. Today is Radish Planting Day with Great-grandpa and the excitement is contagious. Each one has his or her own little garden spade and is more than ready to dig in dirt and plant seeds. “Let’s do it now, can we?” I silently feel grateful that we pushed through the busy morning and did not cancel just because it might rain this afternoon.

Three little heads in a row attached to kneeling little bodies listen closely as my daddy explains how to dig a mini-trench where they will lay the seeds. Meanwhile, my mom laughs at my dog’s antics while she valiantly holds the leash, and my daughter and I take turns chasing the one-year-old who happily toddles about the yard admiring a random leaf or stick. His tiny grin as he enjoys the new freedom of walking in grass keeps a smile on my face.

This. This being with my parents and my daughter and my grandchildren. It’s unexpected. Sweet time that may never come again. Time I savor as I watch. Tears form. Heart smiles in gladness. We are all the richer for the time we spend together. I silently capture the scene like a picture in my brain and tuck it away, hoping God will let me take out this memory one day when I’m my parent’s age, unfold it, and watch it all over again.

Life goes by quickly. (Ask anyone who wakes up one day to find themselves 60 years old. “How did that happen?” they ask in bewilderment. “Wasn’t I just 25 yesterday?”) Too often, we allow the pace of life to push and bully us into lesser things, always assuming there will be time left for the people we love and the memories we want to make.

Moses reminds us in Psalm 90 to “number our days.” I find that a bit of an odd phrase, since none of us knows how many numbers of days we will be given, do we? And yet that phrase has stuck with me these past few weeks. It’s exactly because we do not know our number of days that we must treasure each one of them and live them well. That leaves no time for holding grudges. We may not have another chance to say, “I love you.” A day will come, all too soon, when the ability to build a memory will be past. We cannot allow years of busyness to stop us from honoring parents, loving friends, meeting with God, sharing the gospel … doing the things that really matter in light of eternity. If they don’t know Jesus, tell them. Pray for them. Don’t waste a moment. We don’t know how many days we have. If they do know Jesus, fellowship with them, pray with them, encourage them in their faith, and savor each precious time together.

If you are blessed with someone in your life you love … whether it’s parent, friend, child, or mentor … make a memory. Shove aside all the busy and carve out a space for planting radishes on a rainy day turned sunny. You won’t regret it. And if you are sitting here reading this and you are regretting missed opportunities, stop it. You can’t change the past. You can change current behaviors. Do what you can, dear one. Savor the little moments with loved ones, so that one day you will have sweet memories to unpack and enjoy.

Dear Father, teach us to number our days aright and therefore gain a heart of wisdom. We have an abundance of choices in the way we spend our time. Oh, help us choose wisely! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission 
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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