We used to get together weekly to play cards. Years and years of playing together brought a comfort, an ease, laughs, competitiveness, food, and conversation.
Recently, in cleaning out a drawer, the memories came flooding back. How quickly the years had passed, leaving me wondering, “Where did they go?” And more so, “How come we didn’t know they were passing so quickly?”
Scripture even confirms the quick passing of time:
“Yet you do
not know what your life will be like tomorrow.
You are just a vapor that
appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
(James 4:14, NASB)
So here is the thing I cannot help but think upon lately. If it is true, that life passes so quickly, would it not then also be true that the hard times will pass quickly as well?
We are here on this earth for but a short time. When we are young, we think we have so much of life to live. And we do. But we do not fully comprehend the vast speed with which our days and years will go by. We have but a short time to make our lives count. To do the hard thing of living in a way to please, honor and bring glory to Jesus.
So how about we get serious and do the hard things?
- Forgive those that have hurt us or done us wrong.
- Let go of bitterness & resentment.
- Be kind to those that perhaps are not kind to us.
- Speak an encouraging word to those who speak discouragingly to us.
- Give to the needy.
- Offer a helping hand.
None of us know how much more time we have on this earth. It may be a few days or a good number of years. We can choose to make the remaining time we have matter greatly for Him.
Won’t you join me in praying:
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work.“ (Colossians 1: 9-10, NASB)
Photo by Niklas Du on Unsplash
Oh, how I want to walk in a manner worthy of God. I am so very glad that he teaches me how to love those who wound our hearts - and how to live joy in the hard challenges! I like that perspective - if life passes so quickly, so, too, do the challenges! That is sweet encouragement for this Monday morning! Shalom, Joanne!~ Maryleigh
ReplyDeleteThat's a good perspective--that if earth's joys are limited, as well as time, then so are its hardships. Life is too short to hang on to bitterness and unforgiveness and unkindness.
ReplyDeleteBearing fruit has been on my mind a lot lately. Life does go fast. So my question often is: What will I be leaving behind? A thoughtful post, Joanna!
ReplyDeleteLove this perspective, Joanne-working in hospice I am reminded every day how short our life really is, shouldn't we truly redeem the time for good?
ReplyDelete