Teach Us to Number Our Days
Psalm 90:12
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
This morning as I drove my 11 year old daughter school I had one of those heart aching moments..oh not for her..but for a Mom that I saw.
2 days a week I drive my daughter to an early morning math class at her school. Her elementary school is right up the street from the High School which my son attends. It is always a traffic jam around the High School at that time of morning and there is just no way around it.
As I was sitting at a 3 way stop..like forever..because if you think that High School kids are going to stand at the corner and actually let cars go before they cross the street…NO WAY! When it finally came my turn to get up to the stop sign I looked over and saw a boy I knew from my sons basketball team last year. He had a broken arm and his Mom was dropping him off. He looked so confident as he jumped out of the car..in his shorts and t-shirt..why do kids do that when it’s 50 degrees out?..I remember my own son having a broken arm and doing the same thing just 3 months ago!
Anyway, All of a sudden I caught a glimpse of this Mom..and time seemed to stand still..she was watching with such love and care as her son starting walking away from the car. I could swear I saw the tears welling up in her eyes..and as if in slow motion my eyes caught hers as I turned and passed her. Oh how my heart ached. I have no idea if she was really crying, but as her Mom eyes caught my Mom eyes I could feel a deep down ache deep inside my heart. It ached down the block as I dropped off my daughter. It ached as I came home and got ready to pick up my Grandson and it is aching as I write this little post.
I could only think of my own Son…how my heart aches for him. For him to grow to be the young man God has created him to be. At 15 1/2 years old sometimes it’s hard to see that God is conforming him to His image. All I see is a teenage boy that won’t hardly get out of bed in the morning, who is unsure of his future and who doesn’t have much tolerance for his Mom’s reminders these days.
Don’t get me wrong, he is THE sweetest boy. Very easy going and pretty compliant, but he is growing up and wanting to do things his way..hmmm I guess that’s ok sometimes.
I guess you could say that he’s your everyday average teen
I realized that the aching in my heart was just a reminder that the days are short before he will soon be on his own. Moving out, maybe off to college.
You would think that I would be used to this by now, after all he is number 5, but I think it hurts more when you know just how short your time is with them and wonder “have I done everything Lord..everything you would want me too?” It’s just so hard to let go sometimes So for today my prayer is this:
Oh Father teach me to number my days..especially when it comes to my (your) precious children. Remind me when I am about to criticize that building up is more important. Remind me that we are never the same in a year as we are on this day. That you are always transforming us to be like You. Show me ways to build into my children’s life and not tear them down about unimportant things. Help me to keep my mouth shut when I want to be right. Teach me again how to be Your servant by serving them. Give me wisdom as the time is short that I may have much influence on them. Thank you Lord for your great faithfulness to our children..for they truly belong to you.
You know even though I didn’t know this Mom..my heart was knit to hers in a special way..without words..I knew..
Do you have these struggles these aching’s..Do you worry that you have been the best parent you can be for your children?
Have you looked into a Mom’s eyes and just KNEW what she was thinking?
Oh, you are making ME cry!!! What a sweet and tender post. It IS so hard to let our children grow up — at least for Moms. Thank you for sharing this very lovely post and for linking up on Loving Our Children. I’m very blessed.
That’s too sweet Kate 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by AND letting me link up 🙂
Blessings!
What a touching post!! While reading it I could feel the tears going down my face. As a Mother I can relate to the deep love you have for your children. Thank you for blessing us with this beautiful post.
Hi Debbie!
Thank you so much! God is amazing isn’t He. What great love He has put in our hearts for our children! I just wish it didn’t hurt so much sometimes! LOL
Thank you for stopping by!
Blessings!
When my son was about three years old, I remember telling him that if that day will come when do not see each other that often, to always remember how much I love him. He is now fourteen and though sometimes there are days that I felt I let him down. I do hope that he had not forgotten what I told him on that day.
This was such a touching post.
Hi Sarah! That is so sweet 🙂 There are many times when I feel that I have let my kids down, but I know that they know that I love them sooo much 🙂 I still tell my kids all the time that I love them..even if they think it’s stupid 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by Sarah. Blessings to you!
What a beautiful post. I have tears in my eyes. That powerful emotion you have, I own it also. It pains me in ways I can not describe. I look at my three sons sometimes, and I can not fight back the tears. The love I feel, only a mother can understand.
One day, they will grow up and have their own lives. i just hope they will always remember how much I love them and would do anything for them.
Bless you and that love you have to give, you are a very special person.
Hugs,
Michelle
xx
Aaawwww I’m so glad you can totally relate! Yes that deep heart feeling for our boys is so strong and I hope it will never go away..I don’t like it..but the day that I stop feeling these deep feelings for my boy, I will be sad. Even though I will be happy for him to grow up and have the life God has planned for him 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Blessings to you Michelle! xxoo
Such a beautiful poem.
My babies are just 2 1/2 and 4, and yet there have been numerous moments where their growing up has brought tears to my eyes. My son stopped wanting me to rock him to sleep around Christmas time – it broke my heart, but really it was time.
Hi OneMommy! Thank you 🙂 I just love how you say that,
That’s the perfect description of Motherhood I think..to have the balance to know when “it’s time” and then having the courage to let go..Thank you so much for stopping by!
Blessings
Such a special post…you are a wonderful mother and grandmother! I’ll admit, I haven’t experienced that kind of empathy with another mom, but I do ache for my children, especially when things don’t go as they want them too. School has brought us all kinds of challenges!
Ginny..I’m humbled that you would say that..It’s funny though sometimes I feel like the worst LOL 😀 Public School can bring about ALOT of heartache for sure..so many different situations and backgrounds. It can definately be difficult! My kids are in Public School now too..so I can relate 🙁
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Blessings to you!
You have just told me how much you love your son. I know he knows it and doing the best you can is what is important. I can tell you have showed this and still do. I am older than you and you are so right the time goes by so fast it is scary. The older you get it seems to go faster too! Good article to make one think about how precious life and time are. Thanks for sharing.
Hi there Rita! Thank you so much for the great encouragement! Yes it is quite amazing how fast time goes by as we get older..I truly want to use my time wisely to glorify Him 🙂
Blessings to you and thanks for stopping by!!
“…..my heart was knit to hers in a special way..without words..I knew.”
I imagine that mothers all over the world, have more or less the same feelings and concerns for their children – irrespective of social status.
As a mother of one and grandmother of two, I most certainly understand how you felt. I appreciate and savor every minute, I have with my daughter and grandchildren, as I know that the days are getting shorter and shorter and that children grow so quickly.
I thank the Lord that a mother’s (grandmothers) prayer will never go unheard or unanswered, and that the Lord understands EVERY ache of our heart.
Thank you for this truly reflective post today, I felt as though I was there with you.
Have a blessed weekend.
Aawww Carole, Thank you for your sweet words..Yes I think every mother/grandmother knows that aching heart and longing for the best for their children. I am so glad that you are able to spend time with your precious daughter and grandchildren..they are truly a blessing from the Lord. Thank you so much for stopping by and have a great weekend:)
Blessings to you!