O Lord, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
Psalm 39:4-5
Yesterday I attended an annual Christmas ornament exchange party and luncheon which we have had at a sweet friend's home for the past 13 years. Some of these women my husband and I taught in Sunday School when they were young brides; others I taught in Bible study with mostly younger women. They were standing around talking about going through menopause! What?!? Many of them a mother-in-law now and even grandmothers! How can that be? I also listened as one of them told me of the cancer scare she has recently had.
Then last night we sat and listened to the church's recital for the children of the church. Oh, what wonderful music comes from these precious children! I watched our 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 year old grandchildren play the piano, the violin, the psaltry, the piano, and the guitar. Then I listened to my 41 year old daughter accompany on the piano, my 16 year old granddaughter hauntingly and beautifully play Song From the Secret Garden on her violin.
Where has my life flown? What have I to show for it? What will I accomplish in the remaining years that God grants me? Hopefully I will live with the health and vitality of 94 year old Mamaw at church, but if so that would only be another 30 years, not even 1/3 of the time I have had so far. Statistics say that I won't live that long. My life is fleeting--and fleeing!
I desire to finish strong for the Lord. All the running around doing things does not count if it has no purpose, if it does not give Him glory. And I believe that all things that we do should give Him glory, whether they are what we call spiritual or not. I fear standing before the Lord and giving account of all the wasted time, the useless projects, the unfinished or unaccomplished ministries He called me to, but I failed to complete.
The very fact that I am breathing is a testimony to the fact that God has more for me to accomplish on this side of eternity. As the writer of Proverbs said, "So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)
As Christmas season draws to a close and a new year begins, let us commit to gaining a heart of wisdom, to accomplishing what God has for us in this brief and uncertain life. Let's love Him with vigor!
Always striving, often failing,
Gloria
3 comments:
I, too, am surprised at how fast life goes. How did it seem to drag on and on when we were in elementary school??
Although the younger generation may think us irrelevant, God has a plan for our lives that is an active plan to serve Him until the day we die.
I'm glad you lived to be so old, Gloria. ;-)
striving to make each moment count
The time goes by fast...too fast :) :) I hope you live to a good, ripe, very, very old age ;) :) That way I have lots of time to read all your beautiful posts :) :) Happy CHRISTmas to you and your family, Gloria ;) :)
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)
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