ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

I used to be a morning person. I’d get up with the sun and begin my tasks for the day. By the time lunchtime came I was done for the day. Now that the sun doesn’t rise until almost 7:30 AM, I am slowly becoming a creature of the night. It seems if I go to bed early, I tend to wake up late. If I go to bed late, I’m up every hour on the hour to make sure I can hear my alarm. It’s weird how we become accustomed to certain habits. When my kids were growing up it was necessary to be up and at ’em before the sun, so they could hear the charming sound of my voice urging them out of their own beds. The only time I really got anything done that required my full attention was when I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning and could count on some alone time. Generally, I used that time to talk to God – to finish a sewing project = not forget to pack school lunches – do a load of laundry. My tasks have changed over time. Most of them are not achieved like they used to be – but my body has also changed and my get up and go, got up and left. I still use these early morning hours to present my requests to God, knowing that he listens. My eyes take a lot longer to adjust. My knees don’t become mobile until mid-morning. Soon the time will change from daylight savings time to normal time. I may even be able to witness the sunrise before I get myself in gear.

Each morning is like a new beginning – a fresh start – a clean slate,

We begin with optimistic eyes pointed at the early glow of a rising sun,

As moments progress, the light overtakes the day and

Becomes burdensome and overbearing,

The heat,

The air,

The weight  is almost too much,

By dusk, we welcome the relief,

We breathe in fresher air,

We rest in the shade,

We become numb to the happenings of the past hours and minutes,

Again to be greeted by another morning of promise,

Do we hope in it or give up before it dawns?

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!