The Savy Grandmother
Making a Difference in the Life of Families
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Teach Me to Number My Days Aright by Marty Norman
“Teach us to number our days – that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
It is appointed unto man a time to live and a time to die for the Lord has numbered our days. He knows every hair on our head, every bone in our body. He cherishes every wrinkle on our face, every joint and marrow.
Yes, the Lord is in charge.
As a grandmother I am more and more aware that my days are numbered. Time is growing short as each day passes. Numbering my days, applying my heart unto wisdom are two things I want to be about in the time I have left on this earth.
Lucky for me that numbering my days is not in my hands. That's totally up to God. Only he knows what time is appointed for me. I can eat right, exercise, watch my weight and generally be careful, but God is the perfector of my time. Only he knows what has been appointed for me.
But applying my heart unto wisdom is another matter. Wisdom is a difficult concept to grasp. But as a Christian I have a teacher and guide who brings me into all knowledge and truth. The Comforter or Holy Spirit brings wisdom down to my size, in a language I can understand. If I listen I might hear its call.
As a grandmother, I want to be a woman of wisdom, a godly guide and mentor to my children and grandchildren. I want biblical principals to order my way. I desire that the living word speak through me in everything I do. But I also want to be available, to be present with my children and grandchildren, so that I will not miss an opportunity to share the wisdom that has been handed down from the hand of the father, through the Holy Spirit to me.
Recently my husband and I drove our grandson Jack from Austin to Fort Worth for a weekend visit. One of my favorite times with grandchildren is this three hour drive in the car. Here the grandchild is strapped in, hostage if you will, for the two hundred mile trek. A captive audience we share much talking and laughter as the miles fly by. On this trip, Jack shared his love for music and his excitement that he would soon begin piano lessons in the fall.
As the conversation progressed, innocently and without guile, we learned that his real love was the guitar but that wasn't' an option because of other financial commitments.
My heart, quickened by the Holy Spirit, took notice. A neon sign flashed on and off – “look here”, “pay attention here”. As I further explored the situation, I learned that Jack had misinterpreted and misunderstood an overheard conversation. We were blessed to explore and help set things aright – a Holy Spirit moment.
Holy Spirit moments come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they come in a conversation, a dream, a knowing, a discomfort, or a heart quickening. Recognizing these moments can make a difference in our lives and in our families in many ways. Only by being in constant contact with the Spirit can we recognize when they manifest before us.
Recently I attended a church luncheon with pastors from allover the city. At the end of the luncheon a man recognized me and came across the room to speak. We had been in the same jail ministry years before. A Holy Spirit encounter he brought a piece of a puzzle in place for me.
Years before the Lord had placed on my heart to learn biblical Spanish in order to minister and serve Hispanics. Unable to find teaching material that spoke the language of the bible I had been frustrated and had given up. Right there standing in the middle of the banquet hall, this man that I had not seen in ten years, guided me through his English/Spanish Bible encouraging me and pointing out specific words for ministry. A Holy Spirit encounter
We've all had these moments. They are different for each of us. What is important is that we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and act upon them. When we feel a nudge in a certain direction, taking an action can make a difference, sometimes for eternity.
I wish I had been more in tune with the Spirit when I was younger. I wasn't. But the good news is that I am today. I can't cry over spilled milk, over lost opportunities. Today is the day for this savvy grandmother to begin to listen to the Spirit so that I might apply my heart to wisdom.
I still don't have this Holy Spirit journey down yet, but as I learn to number my days, as I listen to the spirit, the heart follows.
Sounds like a savvy grandmother to me!
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Marty Norman is a wife, mother, and grandmother, who lives in Fort Worth , Texas . She is the author of “Generation G – Advice for Savvy Grandmothers Who Will Never Go Gray.”
www.heartbeatthemagazine.com
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