One Tale to Tell

We spend our years as a tale that is told.

We are in mid-January, 2016.  I can’t believe another year has arrived and the other sailed away.  The speed at which an entire 365 days can disappear seems to amaze me each new year.  In chatting with those around me, it seems to be a common deliberation.

My dear grandparents just shared their 60th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago.  My grandma made a comment to me that impacted my thoughts.  “I can’t believe it’s been 60 years.  Where did it go?  I can see 16, but 60??”

Where does time go?

I have pondered this question numerous times.  It is a topic frequently discussed, with thoughts on why time goes so quickly or maybe how we can somehow slow it down.  We still have 24 hours in every day, so why does it seem there are fewer?

It seems no one can really give an answer.  It just is.  Then, I remembered Psalms 90 from a time I studied it over 6 months ago.  This is a Psalm written by Moses during his years wandering in the wilderness with the children of Israel.  The whole Psalm is excellent and speaks of life quickly fading and even Moses (waaaay back then!) understood life was short.  There are 2 verses that strike me every time I read them.

• Verse 9 – “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.”

WE SPEND OUR YEARS AS A TALE THAT IS TOLD.

After an entire year passes, can you recount each moment?  What about each day?  Each week?  Can you maybe recount something from at least each month?  A year is infused with fond and blessed stories, most likely sprinkled with stories of hurts and weathered storms.  As quickly as it comes, it slips by and we are left to share its tale.  Soon one year turns to many and we have spent our life.  The life we have been given truly needs to cherished for the moment we are in it, because as soon as it passes, it is over and soon an entire life becomes as a tale that is told.

I didn’t want this post to be depressing, but I would love to convey my struggle to grasp time.  I hope to provoke your thoughts, as mine have been.  The fun and fascinating part about it is, we still get to choose how to spend our tale!

So, how will you spend yours?  There is a second verse that follows the 9th one.

• Verse 12 – “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

TEACH ME TO NUMBER MY DAYS.

I have been asking God for months to teach me to number my days.  (Note: when you ask to be “taught” something, be prepared for a lesson.  You might go through some growing pains, but you’ll come out stronger in the end.)  God most likely will not reveal the actual number of days I have remaining, and I don’t think I would really want to know that.  However, there is a principle here.  Since we don’t know our actual number of days, we can ask God to teach us to number our days, meaning to help us recognize that time is short and to value each day and realize that days somehow grow into years.  I want to learn to notice that time is fleeting and life is fragile. 

THAT MY HEART MAY BE WISE.

If I can somehow learn this lesson on spending my days and carefully considering each one, I will live my life to its fullest potential according to His will and His purpose.  I will be wise in how I spend my days and I will be more careful and cautious in handling each one.  Ultimately, my relationship and duty with God, my husband, my kids, family, and friends will benefit because my priorities will be right.

When I have spent all my years, I will have one tale to tell.  With God’s help, I am choosing to learn to spend this tale wisely.

Don’t waste your story.  How will you spend your tale?

this is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it                                                 (Psalms 118:24)