From the Pulpit: ‘This the day the Lord has made’

I am ruminating on Psalm 90:12 today, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” A good friend of mine’s mother recently passed away. I was attending the funeral, conveying my condolences to her former husband when he gave me this quote, ‘Yesterday is in the past, tomorrow is in the future, but today is the present. And what is another word for present? Gift … today is a gift, treat it as such.’ The fact is, if you are reading these words right now, God has given you the gift of another day. Yet, how often do we rush through life? Failing to slow down and see the beauty that presents itself to us every day. The Bible tells us to number our days, to treat every single one like the gift that they are. When was the last time you slowed down to hear the birds chirping, the wind blowing, the trees swaying back and forth?

How about this, when is the last time that you slowed down to spend time with the ones that you love? I am not always the greatest at this. The American mantra is that of busyness, if you aren’t doing something constantly, that means you’re lazy. I was outside recently with my oldest son, and we were supposed to be playing. However, this was a particularly busy day for me and I found myself typing away on my phone. My son looks up to me and says, ‘Dad, you’re supposed to be playing with me.’ My heart broke … in that moment, I had failed to see the more important thing, my family, those I love. Don’t neglect people in the pursuit of popularity, clout, accomplishment, or promotion. I can guarantee one thing … there won’t be a U-Haul following your hearse.

Did you know that Jesus relaxed so much that people accused him of being a glutton?

What if we did that? What if we slowed down so often that people accused us of … *gasp* ... being lazy … The only people that will remember all those late nights you put in are your kids, your spouse, your friends … number each day that you may gain a heart of wisdom. This the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it. Be glad right now, in the present, not for what was or what’s to come, but for what is.