Thursday, March 31, 2011

Dear God,

Time is moving swiftly by. In a few months I will be 65 years old. It seems each day passes more quickly than the last. Is that really happening or am I just experiencing it differently?

I look at my children and grandchildren and see their growth, even the aging process. I wonder when my children suddenly grew wrinkles. Where has the time gone?

I have always loved the Ecclesiastes passage that states there is a time and season for all things like birth and death, being happy and being sad. Yet, there is part of me that wants to say, "Whoa, slow down, can we spend a little more time on this rather than that?"

If faith is all about trusting you in every situation, then I know I must trust you with time. I know I have to be willing to live each day and then surrender it as I lay my head down on the pillow for sleep. I have to release the day knowing I may or may not have the next day.

I realize I cannot stop the process of time. I cannot prohibit my children from growing older or make my grandchildren stop adding a year on their birthday. I cannot disallow death or daily dying.

So what I pray for is the ability to capture the best of each day as I am living it. I pray for a greater appreciation for the gift of 24 hours. I pray for the desire to live each day as you would have me live it. I pray I will give more and take less. I pray I will be thankful for every blessing, for both the good and the bad because even the bad can present opportunities for blessing. I pray I will love more, forgive more, show more compassion and mercy and live as though today is my last.

Make my soul
like ocean waves
that take
their cue
from you.
Wash me ashore
when it
is time.
Pull me
out to sea
when the time
is right.
Cause me
to live
life's daily rhythm
always in tune
with your
divine will,
I pray.

Love, Andrea