The Ticking of Time

Time is precious. How ever little or how ever much you have.

During my days working as a nurse in the pediatric ICU, we became all too familiar with helping families grieve the losses of brand new babies, toddlers, children, and teens. Some families would only get a day, some a few more than others.

Some knew that the end was inevitable and some never had a chance to say goodbye. Many had tears, some anger, most despair. I can still hear the wails and cries. I hear the haunting singing of hymns and chants blessing a soul departed.

Time. It is a thing we can never get back. We love. We lose. We cry. We laugh. We make mistakes. We learn.

What is important to you when you think about time?

For my husband, it is wishing he could have back the 425 days that were taken from him when someone went back on a promise and took away his son and daughter.

For my friend, it is wishing that she could see and hug her children again. To love them only like a mother can.

For others it is wishing that they had worked harder to mend what was breaking.

Maybe taking that trip instead of signing to up to work overtime.

Having that extra scoop of ice cream after dinner.

Maybe holding onto the memories of seeing smiles and hearing laughter over Christmas time.

Or savoring the smells that a spring rain brings as the drops hit the pavement.

We can't turn back the clock. We can't undo the choices we have made. We have walked our steps and now, we look ahead to where we need to walk next. With each tick of the clock, we have a choice.

We get the choice to spend our time loving one another, even our enemies. We get the choice of who we spend it with, how we spend it, and how we affect others. Even time with just ourselves. How we see ourselves, talk to ourselves, love ourselves.

Each tick of the clock is a chance to walk our steps in the way that the Lord leads us. A chance to be more, to be loved greater, to love greater, and to find fulfillment in what is true and good. Time, no matter how little or how much, can be used for amazing things.

We can grow, we can learn, we can try again, we can forgive, we can laugh, we can change, we can listen. We can share a word, we can raise a prayer, we can tell a joke, we can sit in silence. We can be a friend, a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, a leader, a disciple, a sanctifying work of creation.

The world can't take away our sorrows, mend our brokenness, give back what it has stolen, forgive what has been wronged, or give beauty for ashes, but Jesus can. He can take it all and turn graves into gardens. He can give back what has been taken. He can mend what has been broken. Because he is good. Because his words are true. Because time is all that he has.

We are his for eternity and he will work through every moment to bring you out of darkness and into light. He will work to make right the wrongs. You just have to welcome him in.

He has time to wipe your tears, to bless you with joy, to fulfill what is empty, to be everything that you need. He has time for you because you are everything to him.

So when you think on time since passed and time yet to come, look upon the cross and know that although his time was short on the earth, he has all the time to give to you. Time with him heals and time with him brings joy. It may not always be in our time, but it is always perfect in his time.

Time. But a glimpse here on earth, living for eternity in heaven.