TIME IS
TIME IS
The tick of the clock. The chime of the bell. The blink of the eye. The breath in and out. The sting of death. The tear on the cheek at the graveside. The first kiss. The first step down the aisle as a bride. The first steps of a child. The smile of a new born baby. The laughter of a grandchild. The raising from the water of baptism. The next birthday on the calendar. The song from the lips. The time spent with a loved one. The time you are singing and having fun at Bible camp and the next minute, fighting for your life because of a flood.
I have a big birthday this month. One day it just “hit” me that I was approaching my last years on this earth. A rude awakening! I have been doing a study about David from the Old Testament. 2Samuel 5:4 reads “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” So, he was approximately 70 years old when he died of natural causes. Psalm 90:10 reads “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years…” Earlier in history, Abraham died when he was 175 years old. (Genesis 25:7-8) Methuselah was 969 when he died! (Genesis 5:27) I am thankful we don’t live quite that long. But we all know that deaths’ sting can happen to any age. I remember one time when my husband was in the emergency room, I saw a teenager friend from church, who was there with his buddy. I was concerned of course that he was there in the emergency room. His buddy had done something that teenage boys like to do and broke his leg. My friend then said, that they were young, nothing was going to happen to them!
This last week, we have watched the devastation of the flood in Texas. So many precious children and counselors who were at a Bible camp, got swept away and died. What a tragedy! When those parents left their kids at camp, they had no thoughts that would be the last time they would see them on this earth. Three of my grandkids have gone to Bible camp this week. A precious friend, from the church I attend, has been at Bible camp this week. I have been praying hard for them this week. Death has no time span. Death affects the young and the old. Death has no respecter of age.
When I read about the approximate age David was when he died and I started looking at scripture that talk about the aged, there are so many! Let’s look at just a few.
Psalm 92:14 reads “They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” My uncle Jerry, when he was in his 80’s, the congregation he attended, stopped using him as a teacher of any of the classes and did not let him get in front to preach, pass communion or even lead a prayer. He had his doctorate from college. He was well versed in scriptures. He had been a deacon and then an elder. He had preached many times to several different churches. A man of so much knowledge and wisdom, they just set him aside! When he was telling me about it, he was so sad that they had just pushed him away. That set of men who did that, I wonder if they will have to answer for that on judgment day? They lost an amazing man’s ability to teach and help in so many different ways. My 91-year-old dad, who sits in a wheelchair at church services, is asked to read scripture and say prayer during services, at the church we attend. The men bring the microphone to him and when he finishes, they take it back. He can’t stand to do the many things he has done in years gone by, but he is allowed to use his ability to show an example, that no matter how old you are, you can still contribute to services. After church, a friend wheels him to the vestibule and people and little ones, talk to him as they are leaving. It has truly lifted him up to be able to contribute. I am so thankful for the men who made the decision to use him in the services. Psalm 71:9 reads “Do not cast me off in the time of old age: do not forsake me when my strength fails.”
When my husband was in his mental and physical illness, he told me one day, that he was just useless now in service to God. He had been such an amazing influence to others; preacher, elder, servant for the Lord. What could he do from his bed or computer? I didn’t say anything, but I went to my kitchen table and wrote down 100 things he could do from his room and computer. We can’t push aside the aged! They are to teach, pass on knowledge, wisdom and faith to generation to generation. Job 8:8-10 reads “For inquire, please, of the former age, and consider the things discovered by their fathers; for we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.”
In my study, I especially like Proverbs 16:31 “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.” And Proverbs 20:29 reads “The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head.” I have that gray hair. My mother use to tell me, I earned every one of them.
When I think back on my life, it seems like yesterday that we were bringing our oldest son home from the hospital. He will be 50 this year. I now have a great-granddaughter who is 7. Where has all that time gone? It is like I want to turn around and grab hold of the past, like pulling on a rope, to get back to shore from a boat. But I don’t really want to go back. Yes, to when my kids were young, and I could physically do more than I can today. But no, to when my husband was mentally and physically sick. Those years were full of so many trials. Ecclesiastes 7:10 reads “do not say, why were the former days better than these? For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.” We can’t bow down to the temptation to wanting to go back to the past, because we will miss the goodness from the Lord in the present.
A friend of mine was talking about something the other day. She felt since becoming older, she was being pushed aside. Her family were too busy. If you are a younger family or friend, do not push us away and think we are of no value just because we are getting older; like the men thought about my uncle. But rather, spend time with us. How honored and full of joy I am when my family are around me! I have some sweet young girls at church, who make it a point to give me a hug and visit with me. Today we are in times of convenience, but yet are busier than ever. We are a microwave society. We are on our devices, wasting time. Instead of actually talking to each other, we fill our time with too many things and activities. I came across this on Facebook and thought it applied here.
‘The last paper towel on the roll. The one nobody wants. Some say it serves no purpose with all that glue on it. It was the foundation for all the other paper towels on that roll and now it has no purpose. Now think of a family member. A grandparent perhaps. For some they are like the last paper towel on the roll. We think they have no purpose yet they have been the glue that has held the family together for many years. They were the foundation for who we are. Hold on to those grandparents and make sure they know their importance. Without the last paper towel of glue, we would all just be napkins.’ -author unknown-
James 4:14 reads “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Whether you are 1 minute old or 95 years old, life comes and goes so quickly. Stop and think about your life up to this point. Look at all you have been through and remember how God has been there for you in the hard times and good times. Stop and think, is there someone I need to reach out to today. When I was in the age of raising my kids, I remember one night I felt like I needed to call my great-aunt. I got busy and when I went to bed, I realized I had forgotten to call her. I thought, I will just call her tomorrow. Well, she did not have tomorrow. My grandmother, found her dead the next morning. If you “hear a little voice” telling you to reach out to someone, do it right then. Take even five minutes and talk to them or even text them and let them know you are thinking about them. What joy you will bring them! My oldest grandson, who now lives in Wyoming with his wife, every once in a while, texts me about something. It is hard to explain how much joy that gives me; to just realize he is thinking about me. One of my granddaughters lives five and half hours from here, she sends me pictures of her little one. Since I can’t spend actual one on one time with her, those little things help me to keep going. My daughter posts on Facebook activities that her four are doing. They live so far away. That helps me to feel part of their lives.
Is there someone you need to reach out to? How long has it been since you sat and just spent time with an aged relative or friend? How long has it been since, you, as the aged, have reached out to the younger? We are to be an example, by taking our time for them.
Time is fleeting! We never know how much longer we will be here on this earth. Is there something you need to do, by reaching out to another, that makes better use of your time? Time is so many things. Part of our service to Him is to reach out to others and spend time with them. Don’t take each other for granted. Even the precious young leave this earth. Are you being the best parent that you can be in all the ages of our children? Before you know it, you will just be a memory, held in time, to generation to generation.
Till next time!
Keela