“Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more. My life is no longer than my hand! My whole lifetime is but a moment to you. Proud man! Frail as breath! A shadow! And all his busy rushing ends in nothing. He heaps up riches for someone else to spend.” (Psalm 39:4-5 TLB)

Having lived a few decades, I’ve become keenly aware of how precious my time is. I really do think about it several times a day, usually as I’m about to read some fluffy article. Sifting it through the mental filter of importance, I find it usually doesn’t make the cut.

First things first. Faith. Family. Friends. And whatever else God puts in me to spend time on.

Of course, I’m talking about FREE time, since I do have a job, and a home, and bills to pay. But having all the other things I must do makes my free time that much more valuable.

So I get picky about those moments. And I put first things first.

This picture was taken this morning before church, and the first thing I see is what ISN’T seen: my firstborn daughter, Emily.

That’s because the wound is still fresh–she has been gone scarcely two months.

I am learning what life is like for someone whose child has gone to heaven early. I never wanted to know these things firsthand, but not everything in this life is within my control.

I can control my response, however.

Therefore, I determine to continue to live, learn, laugh, and love–with these two beautiful daughters of mine.