Since December 21, the day’s are getting longer.  Well, actually a day is still 24 hours, but the daylight is lasting longer.

I am entering my second year of partial retirement.  As I look longingly for the season of spring I realized I am in the autumn of my years. Both of my parents have died.  People in my Sunday school class are grandparents and great-grandparents.  Friends my age have severe health issues.

And I know my days are numbered.

When I was younger I read a lot about time management.  I collected articles and went to seminars to learn how to plan my day and work my plan.  I wanted to use my time as wisely as possible which essentially meant getting as much done as possible.  And I had a lot to do.

Looking back I am not so sure all that management information helped me become a better person.  I may have accomplished tasks, but did I impact lives?  Did I invest in people, in eternal things?

What am I doing with the rest of this life of mine? I question how I spend my time as I watch the clock ticking away.  Sunrise.  Sunset.

Each new day is mine to choose how I will use it.  I can waste it on worry, anger, impatience, fighting silly battles that have no eternal value.  Or I can use it for good, speak encouraging words, stand for what’s right, look for the gifts of God and be thankful.  I can practice joy today or I can just coast along with whatever emotions invade me.  I can learn to be content.

That takes practice.  That’s what I tell my piano students to do.  Practice, practice, practice.  It. Is.The. Only. Way.To. Get. Better.  At anything.

What I do today is important. Time is a gift and it is valuable.  I need to keep practicing using it to the best of my ability.  That does not necessarily mean completing set number of tasks and checking them off my list.

I pray with the Psalmist:  Teach me, Lord, to number my days so that I can get a heart of wisdom.

And I take Paul’s words to heart:

So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.

The days can be difficult.  They can pull me away from my purpose.  They can side track me if I am not carefully looking at this day and praying to be wise in how I choose to use it.

Life is a gift, every single day of it.  I will give account for what I did with my days.  I don’t want to regret the price I paid for this day.