Numbering the days

Anna started reading a girls devotional that she picked up from the church library recently. After each chapter there is an assignment. One evening she asked me to help her read a few words that she couldn't figure out. I quickly helped her and was about to turn back to what I was doing when she got to the assignment part. I stopped and listened as she verbally listed the things that are a priority to her. It gave her a list of choices. I was a surprised and pleased when she listed her most important thing as spending time with her family. She said, "I just love spending time with my parents." My heart melted. I thought she would have listed spending time with friends as higher then spending it with her parents. So many things went through my mind in that instant, and I felt the Lord whisper to me, "Seize the day. Take hold of each moment that you have with her...enjoy them...treasure them." They are numbered...

It was no coincidence that I had just read a chapter in "Feminine Appeal" on loving your children. In one section Carolyn Mahaney talks about about Psalm 90,

In Psalm 90 Moses depicted the reality of the brevity of life. He compared our lives to a watch in the night, a dream, grass that flourishes-all brief and fleeting images. Then he prayed this way: "So teach us to number our days." Have you numbered your days lately? If we pause to count the remaining days we have with our children, we will realize how few they are.

It is so true. They do grow up so fast. I stand amazed that I have a 7 year old. How did that happen? And yet knowing this I can still sometimes loose perspective. A few months ago Anna said to me, "Just a minute...that's all I hear" Conviction hit like a rock. The reality is sometimes that "just a minute" never comes. How many times do I say things like, "I can't right now", "Let me just finish this up.", Hold on", "Just a minute." Sometimes those times are justified. Like I truly DO have to finish what I am doing (example: something overflowing or burning on the stove top. :-) ). But there are times when I am simply not making my little ones a priority. Sometimes because of my own selfish desires to do what I want, or all the overwhelming demands of motherhood, I tune them out or say no their requests.

I have been wanting to start making little dates with Anna. It doesn't need to be anything extravagant. Things like taking her out for hot coco, or staying up a little later so that we can chat uninterrupted, or maybe starting a mother/daughter devotional together. I think now would be a good time to start doing this..I only wish had started sooner. I know there is going to come a day when spending time with us is maybe not ranked first on her list. I only get one shot at motherhood and I don't want to miss out on any tender moments.

Teach me to number the days Lord. Help me to stop and enjoy the time I have with my children while they are still little.