I originally wrote this nearly a decade ago. My kids are older now—two are basically adults—and while my season has shifted, my heart hasn’t. I still feel the same pull to soak in every moment, praying often that I don’t forget to number my days.
I decided to share these words again, not only as a reminder to myself in these ever-fleeting moments, but also in hopes of encouraging other moms—especially those in the harder “young years.” It’s so easy to wish those seasons away, longing for the day when life feels a little more manageable. But even in the hard, these days are worth holding onto.
Recently, I was challenged to think of a Bible “life verse.” Not one that would sound impressive to others or be my forever and only verse, but one that truly speaks to where I am in life right now.
At first, I struggled. My mind went back to my original “life verse” from college:
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now, as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20–21)
I also thought about other long-time favorites—verses on God’s love, His faithfulness, and His strength:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33)
These are powerful reminders, and they will always hold a special place in my heart. But if I’m honest, they don’t reflect the season I’m walking through right now. They aren’t the words I find myself clinging to daily as I navigate the ordinary ups and downs of life.
Then yesterday, during my devotional time, I found it—my simple yet profound verse for this season:
“So teach us to number our days.” (Psalm 90:12)
This has become my daily prayer. Not that I need to literally count my days in a mathematical sense, or obsess over how many I may have left—because only God knows that. Instead, I want to live each day as if it could be my last.
We don’t have the guarantee of tomorrow. Life is fleeting. And especially as a parent, it’s so easy to wish time away—“I can’t wait until they’re out of this stage” … “Once they’re older, we’ll finally be able to…” But I don’t want to live like that. Even in the challenging seasons, I want to embrace where I am, because God has placed me here for a reason. I want to learn from it, grow in it, and not rush through it.
It may sound cliché, but I know one day I’ll look back and realize these were the very days I’ll miss. I don’t want to regret speeding through them. I want to treasure them now—while I still have them.
That’s why, for this moment in my life, I can’t think of a better verse than this prayer:
“So teach us to number our days.” (Psalm 90:12)
Straight Outta My Mind 