By Ava Pennington—

The older I get, the more sensitive I am to the passing of time. March 15 is this weekend. Halfway through the month. I pulled out my calendar and mentally scrolled through my schedule for the rest of the month. Things to do, places to go, people to see. Way too busy, as usual.

Still, March 15th won’t be as bad for me as it was for Julius Caesar. Poor Caesar. March 15th was just another day for most people. But not for him. Although he belittled the warning that he would be harmed on or before this date, the prophecy was fulfilled. Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate by at least 60 conspirators. Shakespeare immortalized the event in his play, Julius Caesar, with the line “Beware the Ides of March.”

Time marches on…for some of us. For others, like Caesar, this is the day time will cease to be measured. Recently, a friend and neighbor lost his precious wife. She was diagnosed with cancer and died three weeks later. No one has any guarantee we will be given the gift of another new day.

Although we don’t know how many days we have, God does. Psalm 139:16 tells us, “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Still, we do have the gift of this moment. We have this moment to be. To rest in the assurance that if you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you belong to the Creator of the universe. To be thankful for all we are and all we have. To love the Lord and to love others.

Psalm 90:12 encourages us to “number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” It’s not saying we should try to predict the number of days we have left. Rather, it means we should appreciate the limited number of days we do have—however many they are. To use each day with wisdom and discernment. To live in a way that leaves no room for regret.

Let’s not take our moments for granted. The Ides of March became Caesar’s final day. We don’t know when our final day will come. Until then, let’s appreciate all our days. Each moment is a gift. Treasure it.

How are you treasuring the gift of time today?

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NIV).

 

 

 

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© 2010 Martin Alan Grivjack PhotographyMartin Alan Grivjack PhotographyAva Pennington is thoroughly enjoying her second career as an author, teacher, and speaker. Originally from New York City, she relocated after a 20-year corporate career as a Human Resources executive. But don’t call her retired. In addition to writing and speaking, she teaches a Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class of 200+ women from September through May each year.

Her newest book, Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, is published by Revell and endorsed by Kay Arthur, founder of Precepts Ministries International. Ava has also written articles for magazines such as Power for LivingCalled, and Christianity Today’s Today’s Christian Woman. She has been published in 25 anthologies, including 18 Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Ava is grateful for her husband, Russ, their marriage of 35+ years, and their home in south Florida. She is a passionate speaker and teacher, and delights in challenging audiences with relevant, enjoyable presentations. For more information, visit www.AvaWrites.com or contact her at Ava@AvaWrites.com.

 

2 Comments

  1. 3-13-2015

    Your post is resonating so deeply in my heart, dear one. Loss makes us reckon with ourselves and the passage of time like nothing else. May we be good stewards of the time we have left here.

  2. 3-19-2015

    Yes Ava…time seemed unlimited 20 years ago, now moments are savored. Thanks for the reminder.

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