Long Days and Short Years
The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10
I went to my friend’s house to give her awesome daughter a piano lesson. What I came away with was a life lesson I will not forget. It was her birthday, and she was hesitant to give me her age but finally relented. I could see that stress and tiredness had already moved in for the day. With dog sitting a sweet (but rambunctious) black lab for a week plus her own four young children, she looked worn out. It was only 8:30 in the morning.
What she said hit me hard! “These are long days but short years.” I had to think about that for a couple of seconds. Was she saying it about motherhood or in general? Wouldn’t a bunch of long days added together give you a long year? What was wrong with this math?
She went on to further explain that her daughter would soon be eleven and didn’t know where the time had gone. With her complete family standing right beside her, I looked carefully at each one and wondered what their future would hold. Secretly she knew that the time would fly by.
Yes, I could see her exhaustion but more importantly, I also saw a mother’s love shining in her eyes—and her smile said it all. Her eyes sparkled when she spoke of her four.
Perhaps we need to ponder this phrase a bit. I am sure that the days seem endless when the baby cries all night or when a loved one is in pain. Maybe you are the one suffering. Could it be time to bolster your trust and dig in your heels? As the next birthday rolls around, you will not re-feel or re-live the exact pain, but you will remember things.
Trust in Him and know that His grace is sufficient for today. As I age, I am frequently reminded that I have less days ahead than I have behind. Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that I was a young mother like her. Time marched on and the years flew by.
Make the most of the present.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your many ways of teaching us how to live. Give us energy and sustain us through each day. Let us rest in Your loving arms. AMEN.