Simple and Slow

My favorite time of day is first thing in the morning. I've referred to these precious hours in the morning as the "golden hours" In the pre-dawn hours, after I have kissed my husband goodbye and the kids are still dreaming, I drink in the stillness of the morning. Armed with a cup of coffee, my Bible and journal, my computer and a mind racing with tasks for the day, I purposely stop and slow down. It would be easy to go back to sleep, start the laundry or dishwasher and clean the house. I could choose to be a slave to my list... and I used to be.

I don't like that version of myself. The hurried, scatter brained, overworked and under-joyful version. Who I choose to be in the morning, how I choose to start my day, affects the rest of my day. It affects my level of patience, my stress level, my ability to function and be present in my day.  If my day has a rough start, it's harder to be who God has called me to be.

I have to choose to start my day simply. With my Bible and Pen, with my devotional and coffee. With a to-do list to record the things that must be done so that I can focus my heart and mind on heavenly things. To write down and put aside the distractions that are calling my name, so that they can be dealt with later.

I have to choose to start my day slowly. Lingering over the Word and the ways that the Spirit is speaking to me. Listening of the quiet and dark of the pre-dawn and processing the things going on in my life.

These are the first moments of my day, my first portion given to the Lord. And as with many things that he asks us for, this one is for my benefit. To pause, simply and slowly on Him and quiet my heart for the day ahead.