The Precious Gift of Life – A Wisdom Psalm

Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

— Psalm 90:12

I’ve been thinking about my mortality lately – and that calls for a wisdom psalm.

Wisdom Psalms in Scripture, like the one quoted above, like to look at the big picture and our place in it. When I try to write one, I like to think of them as Pep Talk Psalms, reminding me of what I know and believe. (Because I don’t like to claim to have wisdom – I don’t necessarily live out these things after all.)

I have many reasons to think about mortality, but instead of explaining first, I’ll try to put them in the example psalm. As always, I post these psalms I’ve written as encouragement to try writing psalms yourself. Check my website, prayingwiththepsalmists.com, for tips as to how to do this – and eventually my book, which I still hope to get published: Praying with the Psalmists: Ten Patterns to Deepen Your Prayers. (If you want to hear about progress on getting my book published, or just to follow my Christian writing, subscribe to my free substack, Sondermusings.)

And where I want to go with that is being thankful for the life I have. So that’s how I’m going to name my psalm.

The Precious Gift of Life

Creator who formed me in my mother’s womb,
Shepherd who has guided my life,
I’m thinking about mortality.

This year, I’m the same age my mother was – 61 –
when she had her heart attack.
She was never the same after that,
and we started seeing signs of the Alzheimer’s
that destroyed her brain
and took her life when she was 78
and had nothing left she could do –
not even smile.

Then in the Fall, my childhood friend,
in the same grade as me,
part of our foursome,
died of a stroke.
She’d had a past stroke,
so maybe it wasn’t a surprise –
but I’ve had a past stroke, too.

Next, the husband of a friend from church
died of cancer.
I saw in his obituary
that he was six months younger than me.

Then a college friend,
the roommate of my ex-husband,
precisely four days younger than me,
had a massive heart attack.
Yes, he survived, miraculously –
without even any damage to his heart.
But it was a near thing,
and, yes, a miracle.

And a few weeks ago,
my best friend’s husband,
whom I’ve known for the 44 years they’ve been married,
died of a heart attack,
and a miracle didn’t happen for him this time,
though he’d had miracles before.

With all of this,
I’m reminded that there are no guarantees.
We aren’t promised even the 70 years,
or 80 “if our strength endures”
mentioned in the Wisdom Psalm, Psalm 90.

But, Father, that reminds me
what a good life you’ve given me.
And my heart fills with thanks.

(I don’t know why anyone is granted more time
than anyone else –
but I do know that for all of us,
our time on this earth will someday end.)

I’ve loved deeply; I’ve been betrayed.
But you brought me through and beyond.
I’ve got an abundance of family
and two wonderful children,
turning out to be fine adults.
I’m so incredibly rich in my friends
who care about me
and who enrich my life.
I’ve got a job that feels like
exactly the right job for me.
I get to sing in the choir
and co-lead a small group.
I shine light on good books
with my website and serving on award committees.
I’ve even written a book
and a website about praying
using patterns from Psalms.

And simple joys!
I’ve gotten to travel
all over the U.S. and Europe.
I’ve got a lake out my window
and am easily delighted by flowers and birds
and yarn and books and games.

Whenever my life ends,
it’s been a heartily good one.
And you’ve promised that in heaven
we will be like you
and see you as you are
and our joys will be even deeper.

It’s not that I want this to happen soon!
I am enjoying this life so much.
But may I keep perspective,
and remember that people are important.
May I notice Joys
and spread joy to others.
May I love deeply
and let my friends and family know
how valued they are.

And thank you for the gift of each day.
Walk with me in it,
carry me close to your heart.
And help me to shine the light of your love
on the people you’ve blessed me to know.

***

I’d still love to see your example psalms in the comments! Want to try your own Wisdom psalm (Pep Talk psalm)?