We Do Not Know the Day or the Hour

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." – Matthew 25:13

This week my girls went on one of their favorite summer adventures—a visit to their Great Great Uncle’s house. He just turned 94 years old! My 8-year-old even came up with a gymnastics routine to perform because she knew it would make him smile and maybe even laugh. They shared cake, worked on a puzzle, chatted about life, and looked through treasures he had tucked away in his closet.

But then Thursday came. The news hit hard: our dear Uncle was in the hospital and might not make it another 24 hours. My 8-year-old cried and clung to us with hugs, desperate to see him again. My 14-year-old, though sad, spoke truth: “If he lives, he’ll have us. If he dies, he’ll be in a better place with the people he loves. We all die, and if we know Jesus, we have nothing to be afraid of.”

Last week Uncle told my mom that he was ready. Earlier this year, the two of them had read John 3:16 together. That verse—powerful and simple—is the foundation of hope:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." – John 3:16

Here’s the thing about my uncle: he has always been there. As far back as I can remember, he lived with my Great Grandma and Grandpa. Their yard was lined with marigolds, raspberry bushes, and hummingbird feeders right outside the windows. My sisters and I would play with old poker chips, a spinning top, and a pencil box filled with chalk and classic books—treasures my girls later discovered in his closet too. He told stories of the war—like the time his ship pulled into port, caps flying as they finally returned home. There were sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, with Uncle always part of the mix, and endless hours of shucking, boiling, and freezing corn together. He was always there. He was there at Christmas, at Grandma’s every Sunday and Wednesday, laughing at the antics of the kids even when conversation became hard to hear.

But as I write this, we live in the unknown. Will we have more time with him here, or has his time come? None of us know. The Bible tells us that God has numbered our days. Ninety-four years is a long time to live and to love, but only God decides the length of each life.

That’s why Jesus calls us to “keep watch.” Not out of fear, but out of readiness. To live with faith today, not assuming tomorrow is promised. My uncle has lived a quiet, steady life—present in the ordinary moments. What a reminder to me that the gift is not found in how long we live, but in who we live for.

Matthew 25 is talking about being ready for when Jesus is coming back. We need to be ready to meet Jesus—whether it is when He returns to earth or when we leave this earth.

So today, I hold onto this: I don’t know the day or the hour. But I know the One who does. And that is enough.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for the reminder that our lives are in Your hands. Teach us to live with eternity in sight, trust in You and readiness, not fear. Help us to be grateful for each day as a gift and keep our eyes fixed on You, the Giver of eternal life. Amen.