I think I am still imagining the sands running through the hourglass we talked about a few days ago. Watching an hourglass can be soothing, unless you are pressed for time or fearful of what comes after time runs out. When I play with an hourglass, it is pure entertainment.
This verse came up in my devotional today:
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. -Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
I liked it in the NLT, even better than the many translations that said "teach us to number our days." To number our days is to teach us the brevity of life. Right?
I am grateful we do not know the exact number we were given. For me, and probably for most, it would create anxiety. I need to live ALL of my days as if tomorrow may be my last, because it could be. The brevity of this life means it is limited.
I find myself thinking, praying, and saying more often, "as long as God grants me breath." I know the sands of time that represent the number of my earthbound days are well past half done. I need to simplify and be more intentional(last year's one little word). What is really important?
I decided to go to "The Message" to see how it reads in very modern speech.
"Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! Come back, God—how long do we have to wait?— and treat your servants with kindness for a change. Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we’ll skip and dance all the day long. Make up for the bad times with some good times; we’ve seen enough evil to last a lifetime. Let your servants see what you’re best at— the ways you rule and bless your children. And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!" Psalm 90:12-17 (MSG)
"Teach us to live wisely and be well." That falls right in line with many New Year's Resolutions that were scheduled to begin January 1st. Most of them are about making better decisions. Many are focused on wellness of the body, mind, and soul.
My devotional pointed to the Hebrew word:
Strong's H4487 מָנָה mānâ: number, prepare, appointed, tell, count, set
When we number our days, do we do it just to see when they will run out? Or, do we look at our days as "God Appointments" that require our attention and planning as we seek His heart?
Number our days. Appoint our days. Prepare our days. Count our days. Set our days.
However you frame it, it is a reminder to be present on this day... each "today"... every day... the one we have before us.
Today, I am grateful for reminders that our days are numbered.
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