“Mommy, look!" cried her daughter, Darla, pointing to a chicken hawk soaring through the air.

“Uh-huh," her mother murmured, driving, lost in thought about the tight schedule of her day.

Disappointment filled Darla’s face.  "What's the matter, Sweetheart?" asked the mother, clueless to her daughter’s thoughts. 

"Nothing," the seven-year-old said. The moment was gone. 

Nearing home, the mother slowed down to search for the albino deer that often came out from behind the thick mass of trees in the early evening. But, it was nowhere to be seen. “Guess she must have too many things to do, " Darla murmured.

Dinner, baths and phone calls filled the hours until bedtime.

"Come on, Darla, it’s time for bed!" Darla raced past her mom up the stairs. Fatigued after her log day, the mother kissed her daughter on the cheek, said prayers and tucked her in for the night.

"Mom, I forgot to give you something!" Darla said. 

The mother’s patience was gone. She said, "Give it to me in the morning. 

Darla shook her head and retorted, "You won't have time in the morning!”

"I'll take time," the mother answered defensively.

It seemed that no matter how hard she tried, time flowed through her fingers like sand in an hourglass, never enough. Not enough for Darla, for her husband, and definitely not enough for herself.

Darla wasn't ready to give up yet. She wrinkled her freckled little nose in anger and swiped away her chestnut brown hair. "No, you won't! It will be just like today when I told you to look at the hawk. You didn't even listen to what I said."

The mother was just too weary to argue; Darla hit too close to the truth. "Good night!" She said, and shut the door to Darla’s bedroom with a resounding thud.

Later though, Darla’s gray-blue gaze filled her vision as she thought about how little time they really had before Darla would be grown-up and gone.

Her husband asked whey she was so glum.  She told him about the day.

"Maybe she's not asleep yet. Why don't you check?” he said with all the authority of a parent in the right. She decided to follow his advice, wishing it had been her own idea.

She cracked open the door to Darla’s room; the light from the window spilled over her sleeping child. In Darla’s hand, she could see the remains of a crumpled paper. Slowly she opened her daughter’s palm to see what the item of their disagreement had been.

Tears filled her eyes. Darla had torn into small pieces a big red heart with a poem she had written titled, "Why I Love My Mother!"

The mother carefully removed the tattered pieces. Once the puzzle was put back into place, she read what her daughter had written…

Why I Love My Mother

Although you're busy, and you work so hard you always take time to play. I love you, Mommy, because I am the biggest part of your busy day!

The words were an arrow straight to the heart. At just seven years old, her daughter had the wisdom of Solomon.

Ten minutes later she carried a tray to her daughter’s bedroom loaded with two cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows and two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. 

When she softly touched Darla's smooth cheek, her heart burst with love. The child’s thick dark lashes lay like fans against her lids as they fluttered, awakened from a dreamless sleep, and she looked at the tray. "What is that for?" she asked, confused by this late-night intrusion.

"This is for you because you are the most important part of my busy day!” 

Darla smiled and sleepily drank half her cup of chocolate. Then she drifted back to sleep, not really understanding how strongly her mother meant what she had said.

-Author Unknown

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Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.  Psalm 90:12 NLT

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.  Proverbs 16:9 NLT

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know He enjoys giving rest to those He loves?   Psalm 127:2   The Message

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But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:8-9

Dear Lord, when our life on earth is done, may we stand before you and hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Father, we know our time on earth is but a few words in the cosmic story. Help us to use our time wisely, and leave our mark when our time is done. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.  - Pastor Jack Graham

GOD’S TIME

A man walked to the top of a hill to talk to God. The man asked, “God, what’s a million years to you?”

And, God said, “A minute.”

Then the man asked, “Well, what’s a million dollars to you?”

 And, God said, “A penny.”

Then the man asked, “God…can I have a penny?” 

And, God said, “Sure…in a minute.”

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If you liked this story and would like a copy of either of my books,
they are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format:

If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.

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