For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:9-12 ESV).
Just prior to the pandemic Mary and I went to Washington D.C. for a visit with Aaron. Perhaps one of my favorite pictures from that trip is included here. We were sitting on a bench in the mall across from the capital and Mary said, “I need a picture of y’all together.” It seems that we’ve got lots of pictures of our family without me in them, since I’m usually the photographer. So we sat down and she took this one. Those who have seen it have remarked that he and I look a great deal alike, though I’ve never been in as good of physical shape as he is. We spent several days in D.C. sightseeing and touring, eating at some of the best restaurants, and enjoying visiting with him.
Today is Aaron’s 39th birthday. While I often say I cannot imagine how the time has gotten away from me so quickly, it seems especially true this year. Perhaps it is that I’m not nearly as healthy as I might have been even a decade ago; or perhaps it is the fact that I often look at Aaron and his brothers, Kyle and David, and cannot imagine a better way to have spent my life. All of them are an incredible blessing to Mary and me. Should I have the space in this short devotionals, I could write volumes detailing the incredible way they have challenged and expanded my “wisdom.”
That’s what the psalmist is talking about in our reading today as he tells us to “number our days and increase our wisdom” (v. 12). As parents we often fail to realize that the teaching comes from God to each of us through the other. As is true with all of my children and grandchildren, I couldn’t have had better conduits from God to me. Each birthday that passes reminds me that these days of instruction are declining in number. We all have that appointed day in which we shall move from this earthly life to our eternal life. That makes every day with those whom we love vital and invaluable. I encourage you to make the most of every minute you are given with your loved ones.
For me…Happy Birthday, Aaron… and thank you for being so special in my life!