One month ago today, I sat with my grandfather as he took his last breath. It seems as if it were just yesterday, and yet it also seems as if a lot of time has passed since then.

Over the years, as an oncology nurse, I’ve been with hundreds of families as their loved ones passed. It never gets easier, and it’s much harder when it’s your own loved one.

Something that was always important to my Grampa was being on time, actually he was usually quite early. He always wore this specific type of Timex Indeglo watch. I knew that his watch was important to him which is why I asked if I could have it. Every time I look at it or hear it ticking I think about my Grampa.

The other day as I was rushing around to get out the door, l heard my Grampa’s watch calm ticking. That quiet sound brought this little poem by Harvey MacKay to my mind:

“Time is Free but it is Priceless.
You can’t own it, but you can use it.
You can’t keep it, but you can spend it.
Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.”

I alone, choose how I will use this priceless gift of time. I can choose to laugh or to cry… to whine or rejoice…to be negative or to be positive…to be bitter or to be better. I want to use the time I have wisely and redeem my time.

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Mark 13:33 Take heed, watch and pray:for we know not when the time is.

Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.