Monday, November 15, 2010

Gratitude Challenge Day 15: Quiet Mornings




God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning--the first day. Genesis 1:5 (NIV)

Who would have thought that "morning" would pop up in a post about blessings and gratitude!? If you knew me you'd know that I am not a morning person.

Not.

At.

All.

However, I married a morning person. He loves mornings. Adores mornings. Craves mornings. And, it's rubbing off on me.

Over the years I've always looked for ways to sleep in. These days I set my alarm clock so that I'm up a little bit earlier than the kid. I haven't quite mastered the way of the organized ninja, but I'm getting there.

Things that mornings give me:

Time to start slow. (Though I'm a talker I'm a really slow talker in the morning. Don't look at me. Don't require me to speak in more than a grunt. Don't feed the animal.)

Time with God. (I'm not the best at morning quiet time, though I hope to be one day. I find myself giving an internal pep talk and pat on the back... it's not in the "when" but in the "do.")

Time to plan out my day. (I love to review my calendars: personal, homeschool lesson planner, blog plans.)

Time to exercise. (OK, so this more of a daily goal than something that always happens.... don't judge me. ;)

My point is that mornings can be so full of the things that I love doing - alone and without words - that I'm really trying to make it a priority to get up earlier. So far so good. I even wake up without prompting now. (Why do I have the Pull Ups "I'm a big kid now" commercial singing my head?)

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 (NIV)
 

4 comments:

Catherine said...

Maybe if I started being grateful for the mornings, I wouldn't dislike them so much! =) I truly am grateful any day I open my eyes, but oh... I'm such a slow starter. I'll start trying to think "Thank you" instead of "eww" starting tomorrow. It'll be tough, since it's going to be gray and rainy.

Unknown said...

I love that you turned mornings into a time of gratitude! I used to be a morning person but 16 years of being married to a night owl has rubbed off on me!
: )

Kelly said...

I am not a morning person either! Thank you for sharing those insights on how to be happy for the morning. My husband and I would both rather wake up after 10a or 11a and then stay up until after midnight. That used to work when our children would sleep in (until 10a) but not anymore. About 2 years ago after a daylight savings ending they magically started waking up between 7:30a and 8:30. It has been quite the adjustment.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Stacie said...

Ahhh, the mornings! I'm trying to be better at them. I struggle. But for some reason, when I get up a little earlier than the kids, read the Word in complete quiet and stillness, there's quite a different start to my day. Thank God for those quiet mornings.