Mornings

This morning I opened my eyes to be greeted by sunshine and the sweet songs of birdies who were perched outside my open window. I smiled to greet this early morning, quickly hopped out of bed, and bounded down the stairs, ready to conquer this day with cheerfulness and smother my family with love....

Not.

I have never been a morning person. Add a sleepless night to the mix, and you do not have a lovely representation of a stay-at-home young lady... not until noon, at least.

This morning was no exception. I woke up to a very grey day, after 8 and after sleeping in three different places over the course of the night. I was exhausted from chasing my dreams in circles, I made my smoothie with bad kale, and could not find my Kindle, which I was sure was tucked away in some clever, unforgettable place.

I kept telling myself that I would choose joy today. However putting that into practice in a family is hard. I did pretty well, even though my breakfast mostly consisted of over-creamered coffee. Nevertheless spending time with Jesus was a sweet relief.

Every time I spend time with the Lord, with no time restrictions, a cup of coffee, and heart ready to invite Him in, to sort through everything and polish me up, I'm overwhelmed by the simplicity of it all. When my eyes are open to see the way He loves me, and pursues me, it's nearly impossible not to be won over by His dedication and faithfulness. So often I look to over sources for my joys, when He's right there, ready to flabbergast my socks off.

I drew this on my coffee mug randomly, but during my coffee date with Jesus, it couldn't have been more perfect. Because that's what we are called to do every morning: drink of His goodness.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good;
      blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." - Ps. 34:8

"I will extol the LORD at all times;
       His praise will always be on my lips."  - Ps. 34:1

"Those who look to Him are radiant;
     their faces are never covered in shame." - Ps. 34:5

I don't know, maybe you are one of those people who can jump out of bed with a smile and bound down the stairs gracefully, and greet your family with joy. But "jump" out of bed for me looks more like a sack of flour rolling off and hitting the floor with a thud, my "bounding" is more like stumbling, and I try not to encourage my family to communicate with me in the a.m. hours.

But I would love to be radiant when I wake up. I would love to greet the day with praise, and have a breakfast of the Lord's goodness every morning. Wouldn't you?

Be hungry for His goodness, because He never disappoints. May your eyes be constantly opened and searching for the small ways He lavishes His love on your life. And may you have the strength to praise the Lord every morning, regardless of how difficult mornings can be.

Unless, that is, you're one of those people... if you are, please go conquer your mornings easily, and somewhere else. Somewhere I can't see, and can't be disgusted by your early-morning cheerfulness...;)

                          Love,
                                  Casey