Early in the morning

The sun is not quite up, but it will be soon. I wish I could say the same for myself. But I've been up for a while now, always rising early to get a few essentials (shower, brush teeth, start breakfast) out of the way before the kids get up.

But early this morning, while the sun is still climbing over the horizon, Abby is already awake. She remains in her bed, as she's been instructed to do, and she is singing softly to herself. I know this, because from my comfy chair in the hallway, I can hear her quite clearly. (Perhaps she's not singing that softly after all.)

I came here to spend a few quiet moments with the Lord before the rush of the day sets in, and I find myself mildly annoyed that there's a concert going on in the background. I'd really like it if she would sleep in.

But then that still, small voice in my heart tells me to hush, and to listen.

So I do. And I realize I can learn so much from my children.

I thought God was going to meet me this morning in the pages of his Word, or in prayer. He meets me here, all right, but beckons me out of my comfy chair.

So I stand outside my daughter's door listening to see what it is she's singing that God sees so fit to have me hear this morning.

My heart overflows. My three-year-old has woken with praise on her lips.

Strains of an old hymn we sing often waft from her room in her tiny little girl voice. The words are slow, deliberate, almost a whisper, and I have to press my ear to the door to hear clearly. The pace and volume increase when she approaches the chorus as she sings from her heart in a voice I'm certain will wake her brothers.

"Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,

Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose;

with a mighty triumph o'er His foes;

He arose the victor from the dark domain,

and He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;

He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose;

with a mighty triumph o'er His foes;

He arose the victor from the dark domain,

and He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!"

Perhaps God is showing me what he means when he asks us to have faith like a child. Maybe, just maybe, he wants me to wake with praise on my lips, not a finger on the snooze button. What if early in the morning my song rose to Him, and what if my first thought each day was a simple reminder of the truth of the gospel?

Today, at least, I think my attitude will be a little better as I face the daily battles that rage among toddlers and deal with the business of entertaining three little ones. Because in the big scheme of things, as I have been so simply reminded, "He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!"