We’re not all morning people, are we? Much though the thought of leaping out of bed with a spring in our step may appeal, the reality for many of us – myself included – is to roll over with a groan and steal a few more precious moments of sleep rather than welcoming the new day. As the following reflective prayer (taken from my book Touching Down) reminds us, however, whatever time we do finally get up, it’s good to celebrate and give thanks for the possibilities that another day brings.
The cockerel
It was an unfamiliar sound for a townsperson like me –
a cock crowing at the crack of dawn –
and for a moment I groaned in dismay,
eyes still heavy with sleep.
But then a shaft of sunlight flooded the room
and the sound of birdsong
drifted through the window –
reminders of another day,
new beginnings –
and I rose joyfully,
thankful for its promise.
Teach me, Lord, to greet each day with gratitude,
awakening with a sense of joy and expectation at the possibilities of life.
Whatever fears I may have or problems I may be facing,
help me to welcome the new morning as your gift
and to live every moment as fully as I am able.
Amen.