When a favorite Psalm turns on you…
I hope you had a good weekend. We celebrated Caroline’s 9th birthday and Father’s Day. We also took some doggy treats to Lucy for her birthday that happened on Friday.
The mantel is full of cards here for our anniversary and Russ’s birthday.
June is kind of like Christmas around here with all the celebrations. John and I are waiting in the wings for our July birthdays and Rachel will be in August and then we get a slight breather before things ramp up in October.
The year is zipping by and so is life in general.
The other day as I took the passenger seat for Graham to get some driving time logged, it was like a flash of years panned across my mind. As I rode beside him I felt a strange stab of grief at the rapid way time has gone as we have watched him grow up in front of our eyes and I just couldn’t believe we are here and that in a short three years he will be finished with his high school and moving along into his future self.
I remember like yesterday my mom taking me to one of the bigger hills in town and teaching me how to drive the stick shift of her car. Up and down we went, over and over as she coached me through gear shifts and braking and not losing the engine somewhere along the way.
I remember working with each of our three and riding shot gun as they drove us around town. John told me over the phone that he remembered me taking him up to the grade school parking lot and driving for the first few times. I remember it as well.
And now we have the next generation taking to the wheel.
Often I am reminded that I have been all the ages of these and sometimes I have to sit in the bittersweet of this season. Being close to passing seven decades here on planet earth is sometimes hard to accept.
Recently I read a passage of Scripture that used to bring me great comfort, but this time slapped me upside the head.
The psalmist in Psalm 90 pens these words in the tenth verse…
Our days may come to 70 years, or 80 if our strength endures.
Then he talks about how even the good parts have some trouble and sorrow. He concludes with words that are truer to me every day…
…for they (the days) quickly pass and we fly away.
Wow.
These words hit so hard the other day when I read them, but then I was quickly reminded of another favorite verse…and this is where I land and this is how I pray to live.
It is in the same Psalm as the writer has pondered all of this that is so true and then concludes with these thoughts in verses 12-17
- Teach us to number our days, help us to know how to make each one matter so that we would gain a heart of wisdom
- Each morning, bring your grace into our day so that we may sing and be glad for the time we have been given.
- Open our eyes to see the ways You are working and encourage our spirits with Your presence.
- Let our children and our grandchildren see You in ways they can understand and know of Your goodness and kindness
- Establish the work of our hands today, that in each task we will bring You glory and honor.
Psalm 90 remains a favorite, even if it did step on my toes this week. Perhaps a visit to it today is in order for you, no matter your age or stage in life.
I pray you are feeling the grace and mercy of our good God over your day today. God bless and remember….you are so dearly loved <3