"Teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

This morning I had the opportunity to listen to Family Life on the radio.   I haven't had time to listen to them much since I started homeschooling, but they were of tremendous encouragement to me when I started the journey as a stay at home mom.  So since we are on vacation from schooling, I listened this morning.  They were talking to an author who wrote a book on living without regrets. 

The above verse was quoted during the show and I've been meditating on it all morning.  We will have a heart of wisdom when we learn how short life is.  We hear this all the time, usually when someone dies.  The premise of this man's book is that we should live our life in such a way that we won't have regrets later on.  If you want to be a certain type of parent, do it now instead of waiting.  Schedule times to teach and have fun with your children.  If you feel called to ministry, set goals to do it.  What also struck me in this verse is that the ability to do this comes from God - He will teach us to number are days and He helps to make us wise when we ask for it.  We cannot do this in and of ourselves.  It reminds me of the following verses:

James 1:5 - "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach and it will be given to him." 

Proverbs 2:1-7(Notice God's role and our role in gaining wisdom) - "My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom and incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.  For the Lord Gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."  So we have to do our part to become wise, but ultimately it is a gift from from God to be discovered and prayed for. 

On the show, they spoke of a man who had a jar of marbles on his desk that were the number of weekends he had with his son until his son graduated from high school.  It helped him keep in proper persepective that his time with his son was short and should not be wasted.  I grabbed a calculator and realized that I have just over 4000 days until girl7 (Lord willing) turns 18.  It sounds like a lot, but I am so amazed that she's already 7.5 (2700+ days) that I can only imagine how quicky that time will pass.  4000 days to teach her about placing Jesus first in her life and that her goal in life is to glorify God.  4000 days to teach her the disciplines she will need in her life and a love of learning.  4000 days to be with her and enjoy just watching her become the woman God has created her to be.  When people ask why I homeschool, this is one of the main reasons.  We have such a limited time to pass on to the next generation all that they need, that the thought of them being away from home for the majority of that time (2100+ days) just doesn't make as much sense as it once did.  (Not saying that we will for sure homeschool all the way through; we will always be in prayer over this, but you get my point.) 

Now, of course things still need to get done - laundry, cleaning, meals, etc. and they do sometimes have to be the priorities, but I need to be focused on the right goal and keep perspective.

So today I pray that God would teach me to number my days so that I might present to Him a heart of wisdom.  I pray for wisdom in how I use my time I have with my family and all those I love.  I pray that I will use the vapor of time God has given me on earth to do the things and have the agendas that are on His heart.    As I realize that God is the only source of true wisdom, I pray that He would help me to receive His Word, treasure His commandments, seek wisdom as I would seek silver and that I would discern the fear of the Lord.   I thank Him for this time I have with my children and the opportunity I have to homeschool them.  I pray that I would not take it for granted or forget that it IS a priviledge.  I pray this in Jesus precious name without whom I would have no right to even ask for these things.

-J