Psalm 39:5-6
“…Each man’s life is but a breath.
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro;
He bustles about, but only in vain…”
Boy was I reminded of that verse this week. Last Wednesday, when I was out watering flowers in our front yard, I slipped on the wet concrete and fell.
And broke my arm.
It was the first broken bone I’ve ever had. And, aside from the pain and the inconvenience of it, the experience was a good reminder of how fast things can happen in life.
And how quickly things can change.
Just a couple of hours earlier, I had been at the park talking to friends, waiting for my kids to get out of school. The sun was out. The day was gorgeous. And I had no inkling of what was to come.
When something unexpected like that happens in our lives, it can make us realize how fragile life can be. And it can help us to put things into perspective and remember what really matters.
It can remind us to live each day to its fullest…
To kiss our husbands a little longer when they walk out the door. To tell our kids we love them when they go to school. To call those friends we haven’t talked to in a while. To make plans to see family and spend time together.
Because, like that verse in Psalms says, our lives are like a breath. So fleeting. And sometimes so fragile.
So even though I’m a lot slower with this cast on my arm, and it’s harder to get things done, I’m appreciating the little things more than I did before.
Things like my left arm that’s not broken.
And my husband blow-drying my hair for me.
And sitting in bed next to my daughter while she holds a book up and we read together.
And the sweet way my son says, “I’m so sorry Mom,” whenever he looks at my cast.
Instead of “bustling about” and spending our time on things that don’t matter, it’s good to be reminded what a gift this life is. And how God wants us to use it–appreciating each moment and loving others the best that we can.
What about you? Has there been a time in your life when something unexpected happened that helped you to remember what’s important?
I sure had such experience my most recent was the birth of my first son 🙂 too many things happen in life and we foolishly let them put us down or stress us out….we should however look at them as indicators to change our ways or work harder at our goals, its God’s way to help us out and make us wake up from our slumber
So sorry, Genny! Yes, there are times when unexpected things happen and when you’re in the moment, you promise you’d never take things for granted again, but then the “pain” goes away and you forget it and go about your life. Thanks for this reminder. Sorry you had to use yourself as a visual demonstration for this one!
Hi! I just happened unexpectedly upon this devotional blog today and I felt compelled to comment. About 2.5 months ago my father fell out of the bucket of a bobcat tractor while installing a playground at a local elementary school. It resulted in a C3/C4 spinal cord injury which has left him completely paralyzed from the shoulders down. Hundreds of verses have carried our family through this difficult time, but surprisingly this one has not been brought to my attention and it is such a beautiful promise. Thank you for writing what is on your heart. You never know who it is going to touch.
I am so sorry to hear about your arm! Good message and reminder though. I think one of the moments when I saw the brevity of life most vividly was once when I needed to break quickly my wet shoe slipped, hit the gas, and I almost gunned it into a parked car. I was inches away. Praise God nothing actually happened, but it scarred me so much that I was just praising God for his protection. I know that story isn’t anything major, but it was one of those “life flashing before the eyes” moments.
Oh Genny, you poor thing. I feel just awful for you. Who would think that watering flowers could be such a hazard to your health!
But you are so right. About taking time for the important things…
My husband Paul likes to say that he measures his riches in life by time. How much time he has to spend with his wife and family. What a great reminder to me to make our time together count.
So…on a selfish note…are you able to drive? We’ve got a lunch date looming ever closer! ;O)
So sorry you broke your arm Genny! But I did have just exactly the same kind of reminder. My Sampler submission from a few months ago tells the story of how I tripped over my kids’ bike and landed on my head. It could have been sooo much worse, and had just the kind of impact on me that you describe in your story.
I’m all for learning from (someone else’s) experience though; thanks for the reminder that things can change so quickly, we need to appreciate the right now.
Blessings,
Mary
Today a nation grieves. Heart are heavy. Understanding is shaken. I’m consulting our Father for perspective and direction.His word never returns void. This message holds that truth. We, this nation is frilly dealing with the unexpected.