So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Years ago, as a New York City police officer, my friend, Mo, had spent months combing the wreckage of 9/11. Mo had experienced the death and destruction up close. When he recently reminded me, “We’re just passing through,” he reflected life through a vivid, personal lens.

Now retired, Mo carries bodily reminders of those days digging through the rubble on Manhattan. As a Christian, he knows, “We’re just passing through.” And yet, aren’t those words a clarion call for us as older adults? We don’t need to stand at the 9/11 Memorial to be reminded of our lifespan. These days, our wrinkles and age spots are obvious. For some of us, perhaps even today, Jesus is preparing space in His Father’s house (John 14:2). Today, we are “just passing through.” How will we use God’s precious gift of time?

Mary Manz Simon
Fort Myers, FL

Lord, thank You for the gift of time. Guide me to use it wisely. Amen.

Reflect: In what ways do others see how much you value God’s gift of time?

Read: Matthew 24:35 and James 4:13-15