Growing up as a young girl, l learnt in my early teen years in Sunday school of the uselessness of long years that is void of impact to humanity.
My Sunday school teacher cited two examples from the Bible.
The one was a man named Methuselah.
This man lived longest in the history of mankind, reaching as much as 969 years. Nevertheless, all recorded of him was just his birth, marriage, his fathering of some children and death. In all, his name was only mentioned about just 6 times.
I think too, like my Sunday school teacher that this whole number of years was wasted. Eventhough this man lived long, there was no tangible impact with his life.
The other was David.
This man was an example of a life that impacted greatly on his world.
Though he lived for just 70 years and not without his own shortcomings, David was a blessing to his generation and beyond in all ramifications.
He fought many battles on behalf of his countrymen. He became king in the process.
Generally speaking, justice, security, peace and equity reigned in his time.
His name was mentioned a whooping 1,137 times in the Bible and till tomorrow, this man David is still being celebrated in his home country for a life well lived.
Whereas Methuselah has been forgotten, David is still celebrated.
So, I concluded like my Sunday school teacher and Abraham Lincoln that indeed in the end, what counts is the life (impact) in your years and not the years in your life.
Therefore, in as much as everyone of us wants to live long, let's also strive for our years to be full of positive impact on our world.
Be a blessing to somebody.
Put a smile on someone's face. Put a roof on a head. Put a cloth on a body. Put food on a table.
Make someone see a reason to live.
Be of positive impact. Be of blessing daily.
Then, would it be said of you that you have truly lived irrespective of your number of years on the earth.