Life, Death, and Learning to Appreciate the Days Between

Saturday, October 17, 2026

The older I get, the more I realize just how precious life is, how quickly it passes, and how much of it we spend worrying about things that, in the end, may not matter nearly as much as we think.

I have experienced grief that changed my life forever. Losing Joshua was something I never imagined having to face. There is a part of that loss that never goes away. You learn to live with it, but you never stop being his dad. And you never stop missing the life you thought you would have together.

Over the years, I have said goodbye to all four of my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and my dad, who lived to be 85. My mom is still with us at 90, something I am increasingly grateful for.

And now, as I grow older, I am watching people from my own generation face the end of their lives. Over the past ten years, classmates and friends have passed away. This week, another classmate lost her battle with cancer. Another longtime friend is recovering from cancer surgery.

These are people I grew up with. People who shared the same classrooms, churches, neighborhoods, and experiences. We were young together, with our whole lives ahead of us. We never really thought about how quickly those years would pass.

And now I find myself wondering where all that time went.

Life can be so very hard sometimes.

There are seasons of grief, disappointment, financial struggles, broken relationships, responsibilities, and worries that seem to consume our days. We become so focused on getting through the difficulties that we sometimes fail to recognize the good things God has placed right in front of us.

I know I have been guilty of that.

I have spent too many days worrying about tomorrow, trying to solve problems, carrying burdens, and thinking about what still needs to be done. Meanwhile, there were conversations I could have enjoyed, time with family I could have treasured, friendships I could have nurtured, and ordinary moments I could have appreciated more.

We spend so much of life trying to get somewhere that we sometimes forget to appreciate where God has us today.

Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12:

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

I think I am beginning to understand that prayer more deeply than I did when I was younger.

Numbering our days is not simply recognizing that life is short. It is learning to live wisely with the time God has given us. It means understanding that another day is not something we are owed. It is a gift, and it carries opportunities to love, forgive, encourage, serve, and enjoy the people God has placed in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there is a time for everything, including a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

I am learning that both belong in this life.

Grief does not mean we have forgotten God’s goodness. And enjoying the blessings of today does not mean we have forgotten those we have lost.

We can carry sorrow and gratitude in the same heart.

Jesus never promised that life in this world would be easy. In John 16:33, He told His disciples:

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

That is where my hope rests.

Not in having enough years left to accomplish everything I want to do. Not in seeing every problem resolved or every dream fulfilled. My hope is in Jesus Christ, who conquered death and promised eternal life to those who belong to Him.

Because of His resurrection, death is not the end of the story.

That does not take away the pain of missing Joshua, my dad, or the many people who have been part of my life. But it reminds me that grief does not have the final word. Christ does.

I am 68 years old now. I don’t know how many more years God has planned for me. I still have responsibilities, unfinished work, concerns about the future, and things I hope to accomplish. But I am increasingly aware that I must not become so consumed by those things that I fail to live the life God has given me today.

I want to appreciate the ordinary moments more. A conversation with an old friend. A quiet evening with Leisa. Time with my mom. A beautiful sunrise. A good laugh. An opportunity to help somebody. A few minutes of peace in the middle of a difficult day.

These may seem like small things, but perhaps they are not so small after all.

James 4:14 reminds us that our lives are like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

That is a sobering thought, but it does not have to be a hopeless one.

Perhaps the brevity of life should teach us not merely to prepare for death, but to appreciate life more faithfully.

I cannot recover yesterday. I cannot guarantee tomorrow. And I cannot change the losses that have marked my life.

But by God’s grace, I can be more present today.

I can love the people around me. I can make time for what matters. I can stop allowing every problem to steal the joy from every good moment. I can remember those who have gone before me with gratitude, even while I miss them.

And I can trust the Lord with whatever days remain.

My prayer tonight is simple:

Lord, teach me to number my days. Forgive me for the moments I have wasted in worry, the blessings I have overlooked, and the people I have sometimes taken for granted because I was distracted by the burdens of life.

Thank You for the years I have been given, for the people I have loved, and even for the memories that sometimes bring tears.

Help me not to become so burdened by the hardships of life that I forget to enjoy the goodness You have placed within it.

Teach me to grieve with hope, to live with gratitude, to love without hesitation, and to trust You with tomorrow.

And when my own days on this earth are finished, may I be found faithful, not because I accomplished everything I intended, but because I belonged to Jesus Christ and learned to walk more closely with Him.

Amen.