I have recently been revisiting early mornings. Since retiring 3 years ago, one of my favourite times of day is that time after you first wake up. There is no sense of urgency and I indulge myself in having a cup of tea and a good book – perhaps even THAT Good book! It’s an time to be quiet and reflect, on what yesterday brought and for those opportunities today will offer. It’s also a time to thank God for his faithfulness, for his provision of our every need, and for his great mercy and love.
“Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand has provided,
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”
However, my early morning indulgence has been disturbed recently as we are having building work done on our house. It’s slightly off putting when there is a man sitting in his van outside your house whilst you are lazing in bed!
This has meant that I possibly have another hour or even two when I can get the work of the day done, so that I’m not trying to cram everything in at the end of the day. There is also the teas and coffees that are shared with the various builders who come each day – we are keeping the supermarkets in business with sales of sugar and milk!
To be honest, having drills and hammers going all day is disturbing, but I am aware that I am sitting in my soon to be warmer house, whilst they have been working in the cold, wind and rain.
The opportunity all this brings to me is the thankfulness for the skills of builders, electricians, plumbers and carpenters, for the dedication they bring to their craft, and the way they help to nurture the apprentices who are very much part of the team.
It also makes me appreciate the time for relaxation and reflection, but also the time given us and the gifts and skills given us.
Prayer: Gracious and loving Father, we thank you that you bring us each morning to a new day. We thank you for those opportunities to relax and reflect, but also those times when we can work. We thank you for the skills of builders, carpenters, plumbers and electricians. May we learn to fully appreciate the gifts and skills of all who we meet. AMEN