What We Need To Do In A Day

My eleven-year-old son and I think about the minutes and hours that swing into days, months, and years. Adding time on paper. Whispered groans from him followed by sinking sighs from me. The protest continues. This lesson is for both of us.

Calender of the Twelve Months Showing Workers in the Fields, Le Rustican, 1459-1470 by Master Of Geneva Boccaccio

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

We look up the meaning of wisdom in Webster’s 1828 and summarize it: getting and using knowledge for good.

“How do we gain wisdom?,” I ask. Bug is thoughtful, quiet for a moment, “Wisdom comes from God, so we should pray.”

Yes, first and foremost, ask, pray. Conversation continues while we do the work of a scribe. Bug watches astonished while my hand scrawls out calligraphy learned decades ago.

I dig, “How does numbering our days help us gain wisdom?” He reasons, “It helps us know how to spend our time.”

He begins to copy. Blue letters take shape. Our efforts to create beauty reward with a daily reminder. This is our math lesson. Adding. Counting. Considering.

“What do we really need to do in a day?”

A question of purpose. A question of goals. A question I’ve been trying to answer in my journal for months. My pursuit for focus and balance finally compiled in a declaration, a family motto of sorts, and a daily to do list.

Love Deeply, Learn Always, Live Joyfully, Honor God

Day by Day
Commune: pray, listen
Reflect: wonder, create
Grow: study, practice
Bless: love, serve

Bug has his own conclusions. They sound like the heart of my own: love and learn, work and play. Balanced and simple. I should have asked him weeks ago.

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