This morning I woke up twice. Once at 3:30 and once at 6:30. Same day, but two very different experiences.
First of all, I don’t think that 3:30 should be considered a.m. Let’s be honest – it’s the middle of the night. But I had to get up to take Abby to work (our Starbucks now has opening employees getting to work at 4:00 – grrrrrr…). At that time of day (night) I felt like death. It was dark and cold outside with little to no signs of life. Not pleasant. At all. I didn’t want to be where I was (driving) and longed for another place (bed).
Amazing the difference three hours can make. I woke up for the second time at 6:30 (NOW we’re talking a legitimate a.m. time). My puppy was greeting me with kisses and sheer puppy joy. The sun was pouring through my shutters. I opened the back door to birds singing and the world coming alive to a new day. I couldn’t help it. I smiled and sighed right out loud. Morning, true morning, had come in all its glory offering a fresh start and another opportunity to face the day with the excitement of what could be.
I love that God gives us morning every day. A chance to live and love to the fullest. A chance for new beginnings. A do-over. Encouragement after the “darkness of night” in our lives. Another way for us to hear Him say, “I love you THIS much!”
The 3:30 a.m.’s of our lives will come. Dark, cold times that make us long for something better. But 6:30 is coming. Better is coming. Beauty is coming. The glory of a new day….
Psalm 30:5 – …weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Isaiah 42:16 – I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.