Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. – (Psalm 90:12, NIV)
Teach us how short our lives are so that we can become wise. – (Psalm 90:12, ERV)
Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should. – (Psalm 90:12, TLB)
Love and loss are phenomenal teachers, as they show us tangibly, the importance of each new day that we are given. Though I have walked through the end of life with one too young before, we were reminded again this past year, just how important each new day is, as we lost Mark’s dad too soon, and nearly lost my mom when she had a stroke. When we navigate seasons of struggle and loss, we can either dwell on the devastation, or embrace the gift of each new day that we are given. In the case of Mark’s father, grace, goodness, forgiveness and healing happened, as there was a recognition of numbered days, and wisdom gained in how to utilize the time. Mark and his dad were able to mend what had been broken, and though there was loss at the death, there is peace. As for mom, we have embraced with gratitude, each new day we have been given. Recovery is slow, by human standards, yet each new step and gain of strength, is reason to celebrate and give God glory. It is interesting that we typically associate older individuals with wisdom, yet now that I think about it, the older we get, the more aware we are that our days are numbered. When we know that we have a finite amount of time remaining, we desire to do the best we can with what we have. Wisdom is gained when we recognize that we are not immortal and are in need of the Savior. May we ever recognize that though our days are limited, they are each intended to count. Show us Lord, how to spend each day in a way that honors You.
Lord, help me number, 
Each one of my days;
To make each one count,
May my life bring praise.
And help me to seek,
Ever choose pursue;
The wisdom that comes,
From time spent with You.
Help me to honor,
You Lord, as I live;
Let Your love and grace,
Be what I choose give.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the precious gift of life. Thank You that we are given a limited amount of time to live and love and extend goodness and grace as You call us to do. Thank You that as we ask, You grant wisdom to know how to navigate. Forgive us for the times that we just drift along, rather than actively pursue Your best for each new day. Teach us to recognize the gift that each new morning holds. Grant us wisdom to know how to live and love best. Show us how to extend Your goodness and grace to those around us, so that they too, may understand the depth of Your love and the importance of embracing the time that we have. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we recognize how finite our time here, and pursue Your wisdom as to what to do with each new day. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:6
Revelations In Writing 