February always catches me off guard. As soon as I’ve flipped the calendar page, the month is nearly over. After today – Feb. 18 – only 10 days remain in February 2025.
I know; I know. While the difference between 28 days and 30 or 31 doesn’t seem like much, it still feels as if February slips away before we’ve even had a chance to settle into it. Time moves fast through the hourglass – often faster than we’d like. Maybe it’s the March winds that always seem to arrive early. Lately, they’ve been blowing the calendar pages over faster and faster.
That fleeting nature makes February a good time to reflect on something bigger than just a short month. It reminds us that life itself is short. James 4:14 puts it plainly: “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
At first, that’s not a very comforting thought. We like to believe we have all the time in the world. We cast off things that matter – reaching out to a friend, spending time in prayer, following where God leads – because we assume tomorrow is always just around the corner – or on the other side of the calendar page. But February reminds us otherwise.
Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” That doesn’t mean we should live in fear of time slipping away. Instead, it means we should live with intention. If we recognize life’s brevity, perhaps we’ll stop wasting time on things that don’t matter and start investing in what does.
Actually, it’s easy to think that only the big moments in life truly matter – the milestones, the major decisions, the once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But scripture reminds us that God works just as powerfully in the minor, everyday moments. Jesus spoke of the widow’s two small coins (Luke 21:1-4), showing that even a simple act of faith can have great significance.
A brief prayer whispered in the morning, a kind word to a stranger, a moment of gratitude – these seemingly slight things shape our hearts and deepen our faith. Small moments have significance. When we recognize the value of each moment, we begin to see our days not as something to rush through, but as opportunities to walk closely with God.
What does that look like? It might mean choosing meaningful conversations over mindless distractions. It might mean spending more time in God’s word instead of scrolling through endless newsfeeds. It might mean setting aside worry over things we can’t control and focusing instead on the eternal promises God has given us. It might mean we need to pay more attention to the eternal view than the transient view this earthly realm offers.
While February reminds us of life’s brevity, faith reminds us that this life isn’t all there is. Corinthians II 4:18 encourages us to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
In other words, while our days on earth may be limited, what we do with them can have lasting impact. Every moment spent drawing closer to God, showing kindness or sharing His truth is a moment invested in something that outlasts even time itself.
Let’s make (the rest of) February count. As this shortest month flies by, maybe it’s a good opportunity to pause and ask: What am I doing with the time I’ve been given? Am I spending it on trivia that will fade, or am I investing in what will endure?
Because whether February has 28 days or 29, whether life feels long or fleeting, one thing is certain: Eternity is ahead. And that’s something worth keeping in perspective.
Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
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