My friend remarked that the melody for September Song was in her head but she couldn’t recall the words. It’s always been one of my favorites but you never hear it anymore, so I could only remember bits and pieces. I looked it up and was struck by the final lines.
“The days dwindle down to a precious few…these precious days I’ll spend with you.”
September days are indeed dwindling, as are all of our days. Each day is precious, and we’d be well advised to pay attention to how we spend them. We often view time as our enemy—too much to do in a window that’s too short. Willie Nelson sang, “Gee, ain’t it funny how time slips away?” True, and all the more reason to slow down, realize that time is our only real treasure, and decide who to give it to. Yes, you have obligations, a job, a family, and too many people wanting a piece of you. But we often forget that one of our obligations is to make wise use of our own time, and no one can do that for us.
Melody Beattie says, “You’ll know when you’re getting it right.” True again, but we have to pause in order to know when that’s happening. If your calendar has something on it every day in the week, and you feel you’re spread too thin, you probably aren’t getting it right.
I can tell you a few times when I absolutely knew I was getting it right. Settling into the saddle and heading out to do cow work on a fresh fall day. Watching a sunset with a dog at my feet and a lapful of purring cat. Holding a newborn, whether my own or someone else’s. Dancing. Scared silly, but stepping into a classroom again anyhow, at age fifty. Crying along with someone who shared a heartbreak. Listening to a grandson explain the meaning of each of his tattoos, and being proud of the man he has become.
Did you notice that none of those things involved a busy calendar? Can we agree that they were all precious days?
My Montana granddaughter texted videos of her oldest, cheering at Homecoming. I could almost feel the crisp night air and smell the hotdogs. This is as close as we will get now since all the local grands are gone to college, but it made me realize how many times I didn’t get it right. Took for granted the colors of the home team under the lights, the chance to visit with neighbors, and being proud of the players, and family members who were in the Homecoming court. There were moments when I was really there, in my own shoes, but mostly it went by in a blur. So, I told my granddaughter, whose family is entering those busy years, to enjoy it with the kids because it goes by fast.
We got it right again last week. Spent a weekend traveling to be with family at a birthday celebration for one of our great granddaughters. It took some deciding because the calendar is pretty busy and travel is spendy. Even one night at today’s hotel prices, plus gas and boarding the dogs—but we sucked it up and got it right. A precious day with precious people. Maya Angelou said, “We are who we are because somebody loved us.” Choose a dwindling day, a precious person, and show your love.
Meet me here next week and meanwhile, do your best. Somebody might like it, and you will too, if you got it right.