“Is It Still Today?”

All of us who have parented a child have special memories of our child asking some rather humorous questions. For example, my daughters, Sarah (4) and Emily (5) often ask, “Is it still today?” Or, when they are getting in their beds to go to sleep they ask, “When we wake up will it be morning?” Or, when looking out the window in the evening when the sky is dark, they ask, “Is it night time?” Our entire family finds these moments very humorous. Emily and Sarah have no concept of time. This is evidenced just about every day. In fact, recently I told Sarah it was time for bed and she said, “But Daddy, we haven’t been able to play today” as if the entire day had disappeared without a trace and somehow they had not got to play. Every day for Sarah and Emily is filled with play and fun. They play hard. One moment they are playing dolls, the next they’re playing school, and the next they’re playing Polly Pockets. Their lives are not controlled by a clock. In fact, a clock means nothing to them. Often you and I look at the clock to determine when it is time to eat, but not Sarah and Emily. Their bellies tell them when they’re hungry! As I said, they have no concept of time. But as Emily Sarah grow up, just like their big sissies, Haley (12) and Lauren (10), they will learn about time. I’m glad that day will come but I will be a little sad when it does because it will mean they're growing up. Gone will be the days of those humorous questions that I looked forward to hearing and yes, even answering!

As we grow up we take on more responsibility. We learn more and the more we learn the more that is expected of us. In Moses’ prayer he asked God to teach him how to do something. Notice what he prays…“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts” (Psalm 90:12).

You see, as we grow up we begin to realize that life is not all about play. We know we have a schedule to keep. And yes, we know when it is night and that when we wake up it will be morning. We also know that our lives on this earth are only temporary. Knowing all this, it would behoove each one of us to ask God exactly what Moses asked Him. His prayer should become our prayer, “God, teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts!” As we do this, we will discover there is time for us to accomplish everything that God has planned for us—and yes, there will even be time for play and certainly many opportunities to shine the light and love of Jesus!