Borrowed Time


I was probably ten-years-old  when I asked Dad what borrowed time was. I’d heard some grownups talking about it while we were pushing our grocery cart through the Safeway aisles. I knew about borrowed toys—and that I had to return them, but who returns borrowed time?

 

I looked up at Dad as he was scanning the cereal shelves looking for oat flakes. He said, “It means that someone is hoping to get more time than they have.” He said it in a way that I knew I couldn’t ask the half-dozen follow-up questions I had. 

 

Borrowed time became more real as I got older and had sleepless nights raising babies—it seemed like I was borrowing time from somewhere else to get through.

 

The real meaning of borrowed time hits the hardest when you know your time is limited with someone you love. A friend lost his wife to a disease that made the days get harder, even as the remaining time together became more precious. They knew the true meaning of borrowed time.

 

As I re-read my friend's Christmas cards and letters, I see how much a year can bring, but also how much it can take. I’d say we are all living on borrowed time.

 

Since, that’s the way it is, I’m getting busy on all the projects I want to finish while I have time.  January is a long month, and it welcomes us to get started. I'm also smiling more and hugging loved ones extra.

 


“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12


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