My times are in your hands… Psalm 31:15a NKJV

As I prepared to attend my mother’s 100th birthday celebration, I pondered the amount of time we are given upon this earth and questioned, “How much time is enough?” (One hundred years may seem sufficient; unless of course, you are the hundred year old, then one more day would be nice.)

When our daughter passed at three days old, I did not find three days to be enough, nor fair. How do you console the bereaved that the moments with their loved one were enough? Accidents happen. Illness comes. Lives seem cut short. Broken hearts cry out, “Why, God?” To consider the number of days that we are given; especially, when a life is cut short can be baffling, devastating - even tormenting. Grief gnaws at our faith, eroding peace, consuming joy; that is, if we focus on earthly time and not the Divine Time Keeper.

Truly, how much is enough?

So many wish for more time. Please help us Lord to be thankful for the time we have, to say what needs to be said, to live intentionally. May we truly trust that our times are in your hand - purposed in God.

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,

And a time to lose;

A time to keep,

And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,

And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

And a time to speak;

A time to love,

And a time to hate;

A time of war,

And a time of peace.

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:1- 13 NKJV

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for the time you have given me. May I live my remaining days to the fullest for Your glory. I can think of no greater joy, than to honor you with my time.

Truly, I trust You as the Divine Time Keeper of each and every moment.

Whether it be for three days, three minutes, three years, or 100 …

thank you, Lord, that my times are in Your hands.

Amen

PS - Happy birthday, Mom!