Morning Has Broken

The sweet little three year old girl I babysit has never liked to sleep. Not ever. And that’s an understatement. When she was three months old, her daddy said “She fights sleep like it’s her job.” And a very good job she does. I think practice is making her better. She does not want to miss a minute of anything. She would live each minute wide awake if she could, and sleep is a big annoyance. Even the promise of a treat after napping won’t coax her to lie down anymore. Two more hours awake are worth more than anything we can give her. And you know what? She’s right. Time is priceless, and she already knows that. My granddaughter is three also. She quit taking naps many months ago. And that’s about the only thing these two cuties have in common. For my girls, being awake is more fun than sleeping. But there’s something far worse. Those who don’t want to be awake. For them, sleeping is much better than living. Some even hope they will not wake. How very sad. Especially when each new morning is a new chance, a totally clean slate. To get it right, to do better, to make amends. There’s something else new about the morning, as well. Lamentations 3:23 says “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” Each new day also is a chance to look and listen for what God has in mind for us to do. To discover the reason we were put here, which is different for everyone. As Paul says, each one of us has been given different gifts. Isaiah knew this well, because he said. “He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” Like a parent lovingly waking their child to guide and help them the rest of the day. We just need to ask. But one thing is sure. “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”