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.
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.
I am always trying to find balance… and right now I am at a place where I am balancing on a razors edge. It doesn’t take much to make me fall off.
You are learning good lessons in your school!
Good reminder. I have an 11 year old son too. There is a lot of groaning and sighing in my house.
What a great question. I love how you answered it. I always feel more at peace with what my family is doing school wise and living in harmony with the bible and Godly principles after I have read one of your post. Thank you!
Love this post. Life is simple. Yet is it so complex because it is so simple. And ah, balance. Something I’m constantly striving for…like what Julie said…life on a razor’s edge…that’s also where I am right now.
Wow! Simply inspiring!
Isn’t it comforting when the LORD gently whispers His answers in the gentle breezes of our days?
Very poetic. I love it. :)
I used to have an 11 y/o son, a couple of them, actually. One is now 16 and the other is grown, a married man living in another state. Sure miss those 11 y/o boys I knew, even though I appreciate who they’ve become. I’m so glad for you that you appreciate the time you spend with your son.
Teach me, O Lord.
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Wow. This is simply beautiful. Profound, simple, powerful. I love this. I am writing some things down in my own journal! God bless!
Hi. I really enjoyed reading this post “O) And I love what you said about “should’ve asked him weeks ago”. Children just sometimes see “simplicity” better than us adults, don’t they??? Perhaps part of them being “blessings”? Thank you for a lovely post!
Blessings, Pauline
Beautiful post