I Get to Wake up Early
Neither the stars nor moon shine but the sun has yet to show
its face. It’s dusky dawn, between night and day. Clouds cover the sky as I
slip out of my covers and pass the broad drapes dressing our bedroom windows, reminders
of the previous home owners. As quietly as possible, I pass the pack-‘n-play
where our toddler sleeps and a sleeping bag holds our six-year-old daughter,
stretched out over the reclined rocking chair. With temperatures higher than a
hundred, we shared our space and our window air conditioner to keep cool last
night.
Now downstairs in the kitchen, the tea kettle whistles as
the neighbor’s air conditioner hums and the songbirds, glorious songbirds, warble
praise for a new day. My heart, too, slowly stirs as I stir sugar into my tea
and take a sip, then slip again, this time through the heavy front door—with all
three locks keeping out the world—and onto our front porch. I light a candle,
and that’s my light as I open God’s Word, the lamp to my path.
As I read, my thoughts and prayers mingle with images of
people and anticipation of unfolding events. Words in my head meet the words on
the page and I think about words I will say and write and I wonder, how do I
infuse them with love today? For I read, “Let all that you do be done in love”
(1 Cor. 16:14).
Love for God and neighbor-love, do it all in love. Let love
cleanse and motivate. Not just any kind of love, either, but Paul always means
gospel love, love born out of God’s sacrificial love for us. Paul is all about
the Lord Jesus, evidenced by four references to him in the last three verses of
this letter.
In some seasons, I’ve woken early but risen late. With a
newborn, I’ve woken many times through the night and then stayed in bed to
catch as much sleep as I could to carry out the necessary work of the day. It
makes me all the more grateful for grace to rise early today.
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep” (Ps. 127:2).
How kind of God to speak this way! He cares about our sleep, and he stays awake
working while we sleep, easing our anxiety.[1] I
don’t wake early to work anxiously, but I wake because he rouses me and I get
to meet with him before the onslaught of responsibilities greets me.
I think of the woman in Proverbs 31 who “rises while it is
yet night and provides food for her household…” (Prov. 31:15). The Lord feeds
me early, so I can both literally and spiritually feed my children what they
need for the day.
It’s the how and why and when and who, especially who—regarding
rising early. How? By God’s grace and with an eager heart. Why? To be fed and
strengthened. When? In season, and as he allows and enables. Who? With and for
God, to love him and better love others.
There’s no condemnation; this is a “get-to.” I get to wake
up early, and I discover how much good it does me, and how that goodness
overflows. And like other rhythms return after bearing children, this rhythm
and routine of rising early regulates me in a healthy way for the new things
God wants to do.
New mercies, new mornings, great is his faithfulness:
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
-Lam. 3:22-23
For more about Katie's book, Loving My Children, click here.
Email Katie at lovingmychildrenbook@gmail.com.
[1]
Ps. 121:3-4