Rise and Die

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"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

Psalm 143:8, ESV

Squirrel has a morning routine. Once my alarm goes off at 5:30am (ugh), he gets up, stretches, then comes over to ensure I'm awake by gracing me with a very wet kiss. After I'm sputtering and coughing from the dog saliva on my face, he goes back to bed and waits like a little prince for me to get up and rub his belly. The photo above is the very gentlemanly pose he takes.

Every morning.

I've wanted to grab a photo for forever and finally did. What a little weirdo.

I, on the other hand, tend to wake up tense from the moment the alarm goes off, at least on weekdays. It takes all of three seconds for my mind to go on full alert and start processing everything that must get done that day and how on earth I'm going to fit 37 hours of work in a 24 hour day. I've barely put my Labrador slippers on before I'm completely stressed and overwhelmed.

It doesn't help that work loves to send out ad hoc, early morning meetings on my calendar in the middle of the night, so I have to dive for my phone first thing in the morning to make sure I'm not missing something. Nothing says "raise and shine!" like a fire drill that came up at 11:39pm the night before and must be remedied by 8am.

More like rise and cry.

Rise and die?

Okay, that's too extreme. But it does feel like a little death to my soul every time I have to log onto work before coffee.

I remember reading once about someone who started every day on their knees. I don't just mean they started by praying, but by rolling out of bed in such a way that they landed on their knees. I'd give credit, but I can't seem to remember who said this!

The gymnastics of rolling out of bed onto my wood floors while half-asleep, without inflicting damage to myself, feels a little too Simone Biles for 5:30am. It occurred to me, though, that I do get on my knees almost immediately after waking up: when I'm rubbing Squirrel's belly.

So here's my mission, should you care to join me: My first act of the day this week will be to get onto my knees - in my case, next to Squirrel -, and give the day to God, whatever it brings.

Lord, I need to hear in the morning of your steadfast love. I trust you; help my lack of trust. Please show me the way I should go today, I commit to you all of me and everything that will come my way.