teach us to number our days

A friend called whose husband was in the hospital. His heart was failing. He was afraid of dying. I tried to reassure her that God's loving presence was there and that he need not be afraid.

How do we die well? By living well.

How do we live well? With a view to dying.

Each day we have is a gift from God. Some days are so full of life that I honestly feel that there will be no tread left on my tires by the time I come to a screeching halt at what I hope to be the pearly gates. This journey I am on is so full of twists and turns, ups and downs, surprising detours and harrowing ditches-- close on either side-- that if I were not constantly plugged into my Spiritual GPS--aka PRAYER and SCRIPTURE READING-- I know that I would end up somewhere that I never intended to go.

How do we make the most of the gift of our lives?

Each of our days is numbered. Each one. If we could make a pile of somethings to represent each day, and as we lived it, move it into another pile... I think we would live much different lives.

We would let go of hurts more easily.

We would love more freely.

We would laugh more often.

We would pray more fervently.

We would sing more robustly.

We would hug a little longer.

We would sit on the floor and play games with our kids daily.

We would not be afraid to go deeper: deeper with God and deeper with each other.

We would stop making excuses and start ___________.

We might eat more ice cream.

We would find delight in the tiniest of things...earthworms, multicolored leaves, flower petals, the smells of supper cooking, and the sounds of crickets, and church bells-- all the things of this earth sent to us as love letters from our Maker.

We would truly live.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart." Psalm 90:12

Dear Lord,

Help me to live with a view of You and eternity in mind. Let me not waste my life on nursing hurt, bitterness or unforgiveness because You have so much more, so many better things for me to be about... the things of You, the things with eternal value. Please give me the grace to live well, always being thankful for each and every day I spend in Your presence here on earth...and beyond my tomorrows.

I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.