Time Lessons: Like Sands Through the Hourglass
Saturday Morning Devotional
Who remembers how the soap opera, “Days of Our Lives” began? Quote it with me, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”
The older I get, the more I seem to understand that catchy little phrase. You have a certain amount of sand (so much time) in the top of the hourglass, and each day of our lives, a little bit passes through to the bottom section.
Unlike an hourglass, you can’t turn it back over and start over, so you might as well live each day to the fullest extent. Enjoy the fullness of time!
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”
A Time Testimony
A few years ago, we were at a conference, and a couple, Tyson and Jacky King, spoke to us about how precious time is. They handed out a small hourglass to every person in attendance as a visual reminder to us all.
We had personally learned this lesson the year before when we lost our son. Their presentation had great meaning to us, and it still sticks in my mind today.
After the conference, I bought this large hourglass as a reminder of their presentation and the special meaning behind it.
As you well know, the Lord uses our experiences and other people to teach us things. Through both of these experiences, He taught us several lessons about time.
Time Lessons
- Once it is gone, you can’t get it back.
- You can’t make more of it.
- The older you get, the faster it goes.
- It always keeps moving.
- Time flies.
Precious Time
This little clock kind of has a double meaning. Yes, it keeps track of time (when it has a battery in it), but it also represents the preciousness of life. You can’t really see the date in the picture, but on May 18, 2016, I had the semi-rare opportunity to donate stem cells to a lady I never got the chance to meet.
Because Be the Match set up all the details, she was able to get a little more “time.” What a blessing!
Time and Legacy
This pocket watch also represents time, but it is also a picture of legacy! You know they go hand in hand. This was Jay’s great-great-grandfather’s watch, and it was passed down to Jay’s 2nd cousin. Because Jay’s great-great-grandfather was also a preacher, the watch went to Jay. There is no telling what sermons this watch could tell after all of the time it spent in the pulpit.
Time and Wishing
As I think back to the days when I was younger, it seems like I was always wishing for the future. There is nothing wrong with setting goals and making plans, but do any of these sound familiar?
“I can’t wait until I…
- am a teenager.”
- am old enough to drive.”
- get out of school.”
- can get my own place.”
- get married.”
- have my own family.”
- get my dream job.”
- get to retire.”
Do any of those sound like wishing your life away? Value each grain of sand!
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”
Time Applications for Life
- You only have one life to live, so make it a good one.
- One day, these will be the “Good Old Days,” so have a good time while you’re IN them.
- Cherish your time:
- Be fully present with people.
- Make the Most of every opportunity.
- Live in the moment.
- Live in a way that you have no regrets.
- Don’t wish your life away.
- Value the grains of sand in your hourglass.
I guess daytime television from when I was a little girl had a little bit of value in it after all. Besides “Days of Our Lives,” there were other soap operas that had titles dealing with time. Think about “As the World Turns.”
I guess they have the same message – in the passing of time, each day matters.
Time Challenge
As we have started a new year, you may have several goals or resolutions. You may have a weight loss goal, a financial goal, or a fitness goal; they are all beneficial. However, my challenge to you is this –
When next year rolls around and a few more sands of the hourglass have dropped, I pray that we have all lived each day to the fullest with much joy!
Let’s not take a single day for granted, nor the people we love, even if you have to get a large hourglass as a reminder!
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”
Related Songs
Keep Me In the Moment – by Jeremy Camp
What Are We Waiting For? – by For King and Country – I love the lyric, “Why are we wasting all the time like someone’s making more?”
You’re Gonna Miss This – by Trace Adkins (Talk about wishing your life away!)
The Beautiful Things We Miss – by Matthew West
Time in a Bottle – by Jim Croce
Live life to the full!
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Until next week…
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“He said, ‘Rather, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.'” Luke 11:28
As usual, I love every word! This is such a fabulous reminder to live life to the fullest. And I never knew you donated stem cells to a complete stranger (of course you did) as if I couldn’t love you more, but somehow I do. You are a treasure, friend!
I thought I had replied, but I guess not. You are so sweet!!! I will have to tell you about the stem cell donation sometime. It was an amazing experience!
This is so beautiful and meaningful. This is a lesson that we do well to learn early rather than late–take advantage of moments and appreciate them. Thank you, Susan, for sharing this wonderful post at the Will Blog for Comments #21 linkup. I hope lots of people will click and read! Hope to see you there next week, too.
Thank you so much! It seems to be one of the lessons that comes with “time” No pun intended! I wish I would have gotten it many years ago. Have a blessed day!
thank you. really nice.
Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day!
Susan, I think I was like you as a teenager … my mom used to frequently tell me not to wish my life away. Your “related songs” are all so good. And now I’m humming “Wasting TIme” by Needtobreathe. 🙂 Wonderful post!
How have I never heard this song? I love Needtobreathe! The lyrics are great, and I love the mist/vapor in the background of the video! Life is but a mist! Thank you for sharing this song with me!
Such a great reminder, Susan! My Mom shared a quote with us ealier this week…It’s not how long but how well you’ve lived…and it reminded me of my cousin who died following a brain aneurysm in November. He was only 26 but he packed a lifetime worth of memories in those short years. I used to think we had plenty of time to accomplish goals, chase or dreams, travel, reconnect and so on but his passing made me realize we truly do have to squeeze the life out of each day. Sending you tons of hugs, CoCo
That is a wonderful quote! It is actually comforting when you think about it. You have a very wise mother!
Wonderful post, Susan! It’s so true that when we were kids, we so wished our days away. Your hourglass illustration is a powerful one. Have you ever noticed how much more quickly the sand passes through as it comes to the end? Or even the 2nd half of the gas tank in our cars is used up faster than the 1st half? May we use our time wisely, making the most of every moment we are given for time is surely precious. Blessings!
What a great illustration! You are so right – the hourglass and gas in cars! That is really powerful! Thanks for sharing!
Susan, the older I get the truer these thoughts are to me. It’s so important to be content in the season where we are and not look back and wish things were the same or look forward and wish things would change. Blessing to you!