Making
Each Day Count
By Karen D’Amore
“Teach us to number
our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm
90:12 (NIV)
Once
on a trip to my Southern California homeland,
my husband and I set aside a day to re-visit our favorite coastal attractions.
The sunrise launched a picture perfect summer’s day for our coastal adventure.
Opting to take the most scenic route, we merged onto the two-lane winding
canyon road, which would intersect directly with Coast Highway. Within moments, traffic
slowed to a screeching halt. Unable to see beyond the bend in the road, the
passing emergency vehicles would alert us to the reason for snarled traffic.
My
heart sank as we approached the accident scene, where a twisted bicycle caught
my attention. My stomach welled with angst as we neared the covered body of a
deceased cyclist…his cycling shoes beyond the edge of the tarp. Chills
accompanied tears as I noted the song playing on the radio as we passed: “I
wanna live like there’s no tomorrow…Love, like I’m living on borrowed time.
It’s good to be alive.” [1]
The
evening news chronicled the life of the deceased cyclist, who was a recently
retired local Chief of Police. With a face now attached to those cycling
shoes…images from the scene plagued my mind for days. And as I reflected on
this man setting out to enjoy an exhilarating coastal ride, I speculated that
he never once considered it would be his final ride.
Years
have passed since that tragic day and yet every
time I hear that song, my mind
replays images from that tragic scene. It also draws me to reflect on how truly
fleeting life is. God has numbered each of our days and only He knows our total
count. Considering that though, we can’t count the days but we have the power
to make each day count. Acknowledging that our destiny is in God’s hands should
enlighten us to what really matters and spur us to evaluate our priorities.
I
recently saw a Facebook post that said: “Your life is your message to the
world. Make sure it’s inspiring.” As believers, we’re called to live our
earthly lives in alignment with the will of the Father. Each day, we’re
presented opportunities to serve and glorify God through our lives. James 4:14
reminds
us, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?
Your life is like the morning fog - - it’s here a little while, then it’s gone”
(NLT). As we consider the brevity of life, let’s strive to make each day count
for God…while we still have the chance.
GOING DEEPER:
1. How can you make each day count for the
Kingdom?
FURTHER READING:
Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer,
currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and Foot Care Specialist
at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s on the Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special
Events planning team.
