Start the Day Right…
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
Success magazines and self-help sites are loaded with “start the day right” theories, especially at the start of a new year. I’ve gotta say though, this “start the day right” thing really works! I know…why am I so surprised that this actually works!? I’ve been teaching this for years, and I’ve even experienced it on more than one occasion. Nevertheless, I still surprise myself from time to time.
I’m going to tell on myself…
Several years ago (when I originally wrote this post) my husband Eric used to leave for work before I even got up most of the time. Sometimes, not always, he would get on these kicks where he would set his alarm for super early but then hit the snooze button. Consistently. Over. And over. I’m a pretty light sleeper, and it typically takes me a while to even get to sleep. I’m also a pretty cranky person if I don’t get enough sleep or if I’m overly tired. Oh, did I mention that the sound of his alarm often wouldn’t wake him? So many times I had to wake him and tell him that his alarm was going off…every 9 minutes…for sometimes an hour.
Needless to say, this occasional morning snooze habit that he used to have tended to make me a little angry drive me insane. I promise I really tried to stay calm and not get angry. Really I did. However, there was a particular day that was not the case. On that morning it was all I could do not to take his alarm clock and knock him over the head with it. I’m telling you, I had some choice words in my head! I became extremely angry and cranky.
Moving past my feelings
I didn’t feel like getting up early to read my Bible and have my quiet time that day. I didn’t feel like playing praise and worship music. Nevertheless, I sucked it up and got up regardless of my feelings. I made a decision to start the day right, even though it went against every grain in my body that day.
I went into the kitchen to make my coffee and whole-grain bagel (even though I felt like eating the plate of leftover Christmas fudge that was still sitting on the countertop). I pulled up my YouTube praise and worship playlist and clicked “He Lifted Me” to listen to as I made my breakfast. In full disclosure, I probably used a little more force than I should have to click “play” on the music. It really only takes a light tap, not a blow to the touch screen with my index finger. 🙂 I think I even muttered out loud to myself, “I don’t WANT to listen to praise music!” like a little pouting 3-year-old. See what a baby I can be at times? After that song was over, I was still angry but clicked on another song anyway, “O Praise the Name”.
Afterward, I took my breakfast and phone and went to my usual morning chair to read my Bible. I did each of my reading plans, prayed, and journaled my thoughts. Amazingly, I even finished before the kids got up. I think I was still in a little funk but really didn’t pay much attention to it after that because I was on to get the kids up, ready, and off to school.