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 a Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She also serves on the Oakwood Women’s
Ministry Special Events team.
