I Miss My Time With You

It’s been a busy week.

Time has been in short supply.

The older we get, the more we talk about the passage of time and all the things that are behind us. We’ve talked about how time flies. When we’re young, we think it drags. Memories of times past, both good and bad, assail us when we think about time.

But wait. Time goes both ways.  What about the here and now? What about the time that looms before us?

When I hit the big 5-0 a few years back, I found a renewed sense of dread for the unknown. I wondered if in the last half my life I would accomplish what I hoped to do? What does the future hold? Have I made good use of the time God has given and will give me? Have I been and will I be all I need to be to my husband? To my children? To my parents? To my Lord?

And why was He the last on the list?

In a lyric search for songs about “time,” I found old disco favorites, songs by the Carpenters, country and gospel songs, and then, though it wasn’t on the list, my mind wandered to a song recorded, probably in the 80’s, by Larnelle Harris.

“I Miss My Time With You.”

I remember a former minister of music singing that song, accompanying himself at the piano one Sunday night more than 25 years ago. It stuck with me. It convicts me every time I hear it, every time I think of it.

It’s a look at how God must feel when we rush by him, going hither and yon as we try to “do our best” and do “good things,” all in the name of serving HIM.

I think of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was rushing around, anxiously speeding through her evening with Jesus, while Mary stopped and sat at Jesus’ feet. Did He perhaps whisper the words of this song to Martha, as He whispered it to me?

I miss my time with you.
Those moments together.
I need to be with you each day
and it hurt’s me when you say
you’re too busy.
Busy trying to serve me.
But how can you serve me
when your spirit’s empty?
There’s a longing in my heart
wanting more than just a part of you.
It’s true,
I miss my time with you

Here’s a video, with the lyrics.

The same person who inspired me with that song, so long ago, also once told me not to have any regrets. Wise words, but hard to abide by. I do regret wasted time on all fronts, but I know that the more time I spend walking with my Lord, the more He takes those burdens on Himself, leaving me with a lighter load.

He’s just that kind of Savior.

He’s worth a little extra time.

 

 

(parts of this post appeared on InkspirationalMessages.com in April of 2010, but I think it still applies today!)