The Bible speaks about the passage of time in several different places including references to a day being as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day. It also speaks about how humans plan to use their time when in fact none of us are guaranteed any more time on the earth than the present moment. Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”  Also, in James 4:13-14 is this – “Now listen you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” In chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes, there is a lengthy discussion of time in which references are made to many aspects of life for which there is a time including a time to be born and a time to die, a time to laugh and a time to cry, a time to sow and a time to reap that which was sown and several others. These are just a few samples of many places in the scriptures that reference some aspect of time.

Today marks seven months since my wife passed away in an untimely and unexpected manner so these thoughts about time are heavy on my mind. In the months prior to her passing and especially in the months since her passing, I have come to a deeper understanding and realization of how precious time is and how it should be treasured. Just a few weeks before my wife passed away, my friend and community leader Shay McCormick passed away unexpectedly and one of my lifelong friends lost her child to a battel with cancer. Since Mike’s passing away, I have lost several other friends, co-workers, and loved ones who have passed from this earth much too early including just a couple of days ago a friend who passed away suddenly and without expectation at the age of 53.

The seven months since Mike passed away have often been a blur to me with days coming and going while I was just moving on with life. I have experienced the sadness of days, lonely nights, and had many memories about our lives together and the times we had during our 45 years of marriage. My family has gone through the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons with many happy times with our remaining family members but also with many moments of reflective sadness in which we recalled how much she loved the holiday season, especially Christmas with all of the grandchildren. Though the grief and sense of loss is getting better, there are still moments of time that are hard.

But the passage of time has helped us to continue to heal from our loss. Along with the times of sadness, we have also been able to recall, enjoy and even laugh about some of the funny memories and crazy things that happened in our family over these years such going on vacations to the mountains, the beach, Disney World, New York and many other places, spending time at the kids activities, eating at lots of places, and going places with friends. These good memories help to ease the pain of loss.

And yet, even in these memories, the essence of time and how precious it is keeps crossing my mind. It seems like yesterday that two young folks, one who had just turned 20 years of age (me) the other one still 19 (Mike) got married on February 24, 1973 and struck out on the journey of life without a doggone clue about what the future would hold. I have often wondered how in the world Francis and Mellie Hays and Quincy and Gertrude Lee let us get married at that time.

In looking back, we were about as prepared to be married as I would be ready to climb Mount Everest today buck naked with no help from the Sherpa guides. I was still going to Chipola College, did not have a job, and she was working at the Florida bank in Chipley making a smooth $300.00 a month. On top of that, Francis went to the bank and co-signed a loan with us to buy the required house trailer that was (and still is I guess) the preferred place for young couples in the Florida panhandle to live. I believe our payment for this lovely piece of tin, tires and particle board was $88.00 a month.

Anyway, the next 45 years flew by like the speed of light. During these years, we lived in 9 different places including 2 different trailers, 2 trailer parks, 3 rental homes and 3 homes we either bought or built. We were blessed to have 3 children that we somehow got raised to adulthood, got them all educated and watched them begin families of their own. While these things were going on, time just kept on flying by. I worked in 4 different school systems, she worked at several banks, owned the daycare center and worked at a school for a couple of years. Heck, we even owned and operated a small restaurant one time.

Then the kids were all gone from home and we started the next phase of life with plans to do things together, travel to places we had wanted to go, and see things we wanted to see. But then unexpected events happened and the things we had planned to do were interrupted.

We did not get to take the trips or see the sights we had talked about. We did not get to eat lobster in Maine or see the beauty of the Grand Canyon together. We did not go to Yellowstone National Park or make it to see the giant redwood trees. We did not go on the Alaskan cruise or take that other trip back to New Orleans to eat the gumbo on Bourbon Street.

We ran out of time.

So, what would I desire for anyone who may read this?  I would hope they would not take the time they are allowed on this earth for granted. I would hope to convey to them the advice to use the time afforded to them wisely – take the trip, visit with loved ones, enjoy good health while you have it. Eat the dessert, smell the flowers, go to the beach. Live life and enjoy it to the fullest extent possible with your family, friends and loved ones.

Do not assume that you always will have more time to do these things. It may not be so.