I sit at my desk in our homeschool classroom, and morning is a pink rectangle in the window. The house is quiet. Rugby the Labrador sleeps at my feet. It’s Monday and time to work on lesson plans. My steaming coffee sits near three planner books with navy covers. I open the one on top and run my hand over the smooth, cool page.
There’s a calendar grid, and the squares are empty, waiting for the promise of things we’ll learn and hold.
I begin to fill in the squares with plans for a boy’s week. Fractions. Adjectives. Phases of the moon. The Byzantine Empire. But as I cover the sheet, my mind wanders to a verse from my Bible reading the night before.
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. (Psalm 144:4, ESV)
I’ve read this verse many times, and it usually sets my soul on edge. It’s typical that I would swell with sadness–fretting about the passage of time. But today, as the words fall on my spirit, I’m not filled with fear. Today there’s a flutter of anticipation. Of expectancy. There’s an urge to fill my time, these days, with intentional things.
Every day is precious. I want to live each one for the glory of the Lord.
I think about the Pharisees, gathering together to churn a question that would test the Lord Jesus. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” one of them asked. Jesus’ reply was as powerful as the dawn. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. Then love your neighbor.
When our love for the Lord is a priority in our lives, the desire to share is compelling. And we all have a sphere of influence. It’s where we live. Breathe. Where we do life. Each day presents opportunity to love others for the glory of the Lord. When we reach into the lives around us with His kind of love, we’re surely living in a way that’s pleasing to our Father.
Lord, help me share your love today. Let me live with intention.
I return to my lesson plans, and I just finish the third book when a son comes into our schoolroom. He’s sleepy-eyed. He walks to the sofa, climbs on and curls up tight.
On this day, I’m not afraid of the limitation of time.
Today is valuable, and I can’t wait to begin.
