In The Morning

The boy stirred.
I poke man in the ribs.
"He's awake," I say, clearing my voice with every word.
We then do our quotidian dance that's almost become ingrained in our circadian rhythm.
I creak and crawl my way out of bed and beckon the dog to join me downstairs.
The dog will receive breakfast. I will pack the man's lunch, and a bottle will be prepared.
The man will tend to the boy.
After dog has enjoyed a brisk (frigid is more like it) bathroom experience, I stumble back upstairs, bottle in hand.
I crawl back into bed.
Boy is already asleep, bottle will be useful later.
Man is getting ready for work.
After he is clean, he sits beside me and prays to the Father, the Creator of our days, the One whom our quotidian dance is devoted to.
He leaves after kisses and I love you's.
And I can't sleep.

These morning hours between waking and beginning the day are a good time to pray and reflect.



A prayer called "Morning" from the Puritan collection of prayers found in The Valley of Vision

Compassionate Lord, 

Thy mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day. 

Vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace, 

increase in knowledge, 

ripen for spiritual harvest. 

Let me this day know Thee as Thou art, 

love Thee supremely, 

serve Thee wholly, 

admire Thee fully. 

Through grace let my will respond to Thee, 

knowing that power to obey is not in me, but that Thy free love alone enables me to serve Thee. 

Here then is my empty heart, overflow it with Thy choicest gifts; 

here is my blind understanding, chase away its mists of ignorance.

O ever watchful Shepherd, lead, guide, tend me this day; 

without Thy restraining rod I err and stray. 

Hedge up my path lest I wander into unwholesome pleasure, and drink its poisonous streams; 

direct my feet that I be not entangled in Satan's secret snares, nor fall into his hidden traps. 

Defend me from assailing foes, 

from evil circumstances, 

from myself. 

My adversaries are part and parcel of my nature; they cling to me as my very skin;

 I cannot escape their contact. 

In my rising up and sitting down they barnacle me; they entice with constant baits; 

my enemy is within the citadel. 

Come with almighty power and cast him out, pierce him to death, and abolish in me every particle of carnal life this day.