Honestly, I haven’t always loved the morning. My body and mind seem to move in half-time, fumbling for order with garbled words and hair and breath. And I don’t like fumbling. But these years of motherhood have taught me to appreciate the sacredness of morning, its power to give me new, to offer what is yet to be and somehow rekindle hope and promise in my chest. Enough for the day, if I’ll pay attention. Morning neatly draws the lines between past and present and future, like a metronome counting out the rhythm of time, parting me with yesterday’s success and failure and reminding me to look ahead, to receive something new, something unique for today. I am neither the first nor the last to draw attention to the sacredness of mornings. Mary Oliver describes morning as a new creation, a time of rebirth. Harriet Beecher Stowe exclaims the new day beckons us into change. The Old Testament recounts every morning contains new mercies. Over the years I have found so much hidden in those first waking hours, strength and wisdom tucked into quiet moments easily overlooked. At times, I am awake before the sun, sitting alone with a cup of coffee and pen and paper or a book or in prayer. Sometimes I make it to the gym or for a walk or run through the neighborhood. On other mornings, I share these first hours with my children, snuggling them and hearing their dream-stories, making breakfast and beginning our daily routine. On the best of mornings, I awake with the sun and my husband. Regardless of the way my morning adapts to our family, I have learned these hours are intended to nourish me for the day’s demands, for whatever might be required.
This year, I’m wanting to pay closer attention to what has become my favorite part of the day, to take notice of the wisdom and rest and promise that comes through these early hours. And to share them periodically here with you.
Comments
This is beautiful writing! I have never been a morning person but I am recently trying to get int a routine to wake up early before work so I can take in the morning.
Thank you and way to go! I find getting up early to be one of the more rewarding disciplines, but it’s still a discipline. Of course, it also makes the mornings I choose to sleep in more rewarding in their own way, too. x
This is a gorgeous post, Bethany. Thoroughly applies to what I’m trying to weave into my routine, also.
Thank you. The morning really does offer us so much strength for the day. Blessings to you guys in yours.
I may feel a teensie bit convicted reading this…
I need to find joy in those little reasons. My day almost always starts very early and instead of grumbling about it, I need to change my attitude and find the gifts in it. Thanks, friend!
Oh, I know it. I find waking up before my kids actually prepares me for the day with them. I’m learning how to divide up my day, and taking some early time alone helps me to prepare for a full day when I am not. Grace to you in these quite exhausting years. x
Beautiful post! I also move in half-time during the early hours of the day – which used to frustrate me but now I just see it as a chance for me to pause and take in the new day before launching myself into it.
Yes, thank you for sharing, Miranti! This half-pace used to always frazzle me and leave me feeling rushed when I had to be out the door early. Now I know this about myself and wake up earlier. This helps regardless of if I am leaving or simply having to be productive at home (most days now).
So lovely and inspiring. I am really fond of this image too, by the way.
Thanks, Kristen. Means much coming from you. x
Such a good goal for the new year. After what seems years of restless nights with small children, I am acutely aware of how much my soul needs the promises of early morning. I’m vowing to take back that time! Thank you for giving voice to that need.
Morning promises and quiet are a gift and we DO need it to feed our day. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your mornings. (Smile.)
I love this, Bethany! I was never a morning person, but I’ve learned to appreciate mornings, too. In the last year and a half I found that mornings were the only time in my day when I could feed my soul. The quiet and darkness in my house was guaranteed at this time before my kids were awake and ready for the day. After trying to find quiet time in the evening after they were in bed and being too tired to appreciate it, I decided to give mornings a try. Now I’ve found that the habit stuck around and I’ve grown to love mornings and anticipate them. :)
Yes! I agree entirely. I’m trying to use my evening for reading and resting this year, rather than screen time or work, and the mornings to nourish my soul, as you mentioned. If anything, motherhood has taught me how to live more intentionally, realizing everything (good and bad) are for a moment and to make the most of them. Blessings to you, mama.