PEA RIDGE — On the brink of a new decade, it’s hard not to look back at, not only the year just past, but the decades.

Wasn’t it just yesterday that the news was full of Y2K and people fearful of a crisis, stocking water and basic supplies?

Or was that 1980?

The years seem to go by so very quickly and the older we are, the more quickly they seem to pass.

Two dear friends of mine are 82 and 92. My grandmother just turned 95. Their perspectives are far different than mine. And mine is different than that of my children, especially the 8-year-old, but also the teens and those in their 20s.

My elder friends constantly remind age is a state of mind. They may have lived a great number of years, but they say they refuse to grow old. They still face each day with enthusiasm and vigor.

A year is a large proportion of the life of a youngster. A decade is more than a lifetime to my youngest child, half of the life of my fourth daughter, and less than half of my eldest daughter’s life. Butthat same decade is a mere fraction of the life of my grandmother’s life.

So, whereas the number of minutes, hours, days that comprise the year, the decade, are not different, our perspective of it is.

In Scripture, Moses, who died at 120 years of age, wrote of God: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:4.

Moses asked the infinite God to teach us mortals to use our time wisely.

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

Time is a gift far too many of us take for granted.

It takes years of living to truly appreciate the gift of time.

Young parents are always rushing their little ones to reach the next stage, and well they should anticipatethe expected levels of maturity. But, it truly does pass in an instant.

When I was trying to go grocery shopping with two grocery carts, an infant, two toddlers and three pre-schoolers, I remember wanting desperately for them to grow up. People would often remind me to enjoy those years telling me they would grow up overnight.

They did.

My eldest four are adults.

They are capable, responsible, loving, compassionate, lovely young ladies and I’m so very privileged to be able to call them my daughters.

The next three are teenagers, young people on the brink of adulthood trying their wings, preparing to be on their own, but just not quite ready.

The youngest two still have a decade to go before they see adulthood.

And the newest addition, a 15-month-old grandson, well, he’s just beginning this journey of life.

And, although I think I’ve been learning to slow down and enjoy life, I find myself rushing around as muchas ever, just for different reasons.

I think of the Scripture in Daniel 12:4 which states: “... to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

Does that not accurately describe today?

Our knowledge has increased substantially.

Whether driving or flying, we’re certainly moving faster than in the horse and buggy days. And communication choices? The multitudinous forms of communication constantly screaming for our attention are innumerable. In addition to the telephone, there’s the cell phone and texting, the computer with e-mail and Internet. Although I like being able to communicate easily with my far-away relatives and friends (like my cousin in Singapore), I deplore the lack of personal communication. People don’t talk face to face anymore. People don’t sit on the front porch and contemplate life.

We need to reconnect, in person, face to face and relish the moments before they, too, are gone and it’s 2020.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 12/30/2009