I'm about five days into my January goal of getting up before the kids and I still hate it. Detest it. Curse it.
How many days does it take to make a habit? How many times do I have to do something before I love it?
This morning when my alarm went off, I literally cursed my alarm and rolled back over. Oh my gracious I couldn't believe it. Finally I did get up and yes it was before 3 of my kids were up, but I didn't get to read anything from my bible, which I've been doing each morning and love starting my day with God's word. Things were a bit chaotic because I spent an extra amount of time snuggling on the couch with one child, and we were lazy and didn't set out our clothes and back-packs the night before. (why does that make a world of difference in our morning?!?!)
As much as I detest getting up early, it's made a huge difference in our house. When I wake up and it's completely dark and no one is up but me I usually start out bitter. I'm just telling it like it is people. I am mad that everyone's tucked in nicely in their warm beds, and I'm up alone. Then I get in the living room, and open up my bible and soak up as much as I can in 20 minutes before I go to wake up my kids. During that quiet I actually am happy I'm up. I don't try to read a lot in my bible, but what I do try to do is read it well and think lots on it during the day. Reading things like “I believe; help my unbelief” and “whoever receives one such child in my name receives me” and “truly, i say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” and “but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be a slave to all” will make your morning start off quite well. It's as if I'm setting my mind on things above way before any of these kids wake up and start needing all I have.
One of my favorite things about getting up before my kids is that most of the time I get to sit on their bed and rub their backs while I welcome them into the new day. It's much better than turning the light on quickly and yelling for everyone to get up because we're late!!!
So … that's my little one week update. I still have my jammies on and it's 10am. I haven't worked out today and haven't opened my bible yet. Baby steps people, baby steps.
If you are trying this, how is it going? I'm excited about the morning challenge I signed up for and hopefully it will get me encouraged to keep up this good habit long past January 31st.
Good job Jamie! It is SO hard to do, but oh so worth it! With my first baby we could just take things easy and I could read my Bible whenever during the day, take her to the gym, nap…ffwd to 4 littles later, homeschooling, and ministry…and well, I totally understand where you’re coming from! You can’t just ease into your day!:) Now I get up about 2 hours before everyone else and it is the BEST! Time to be with the Lord, throw on a workout video, shower, and prep my day before anyone is up. Mama is in a much better mood and the day runs more smoothly because I am one step ahead of them!:) Cheering you on! Those first few days and weeks for me were the hardest because I was such a night person…still am, but now I try to be in bed by 11 p.m. (9:30 would be a dream!:) so I can get up around 5. I have no idea why I wrote a novel, just know that we feel your pain but there’s a big payoff in the end!:)
I’ve joined you in this and I hate it too. It’s like they can smell me! As soon as I get up, no matter how early they are up too! So iv started putting their Bibles out too. Uggggh
My challenge for right now is a workout thing, but i realized that i need (and want) to start setting my schedule like a person with a full time job, rather than like a student on a school break. So this AM i got up early to work out before coming to volunteer at the office. I actually didn’t HATE getting up, even though I got less sleep than usual. I think making myself get up is going to help me have better sleep, and get to bed on time. But it does make me wonder if I should read the bible after I work out, or at night….
Anyway, today was the first day of getting up early, and I’m going to TRY to do it monday-saturday. We’ll see!
yeah, i heard you curse out loud… and it’s offensive…
This rocks Jamie! I love it! 🙂