Every morning I do the same thing.
I push the covers to the bottom of the bed, find my slippers, and stumble towards the kitchen.
On my way, I gather my current pile of books, usually it’s no less than three, and lay them out on the table.
The cereal is still on the counter from the kids’ nighttime snack. I take a bowl from the cupboard and make myself a concoction of Wheetabix, cornflakes, and muesli, pour a mixture of almond milk and cow’s milk over top with a sprinkle of flax and chia seeds for good measure.
I flip pages, jot down quotes that catch my attention, and scrape my bowl clean.
After about thirty minutes I tiptoe downstairs, let the dog out of his house, and rouse my youngest for a short nursing session before I go for a run or drive to the pool for a swim.
By the time I return, I will only have a few minutes before my three older kids wander upstairs with smiles (and sometimes tears over an early, ugly sibling squabble in the bedroom).
I guide my 6, 5, and 3-year-old through their morning routine with as much grace and patience as I can muster. I am training them to understand the importance of sameness.
Sunrises and sunsets are nature’s bookends for the day. We need clear beginnings and endings too.
It might sound boring, but rarely do I offer my kids something different for breakfast each morning. I want to teach them to respect routine for what it can offer us.
Consistent, simple patterns provide a framework to our days.
Regular rhythms fill our trust tank and make us more confident and excited to deviate or to explore something new when those longings arise.
Finding little grooves in our lives gives us a track to fall back on when we the road is rough and we are uncertain about where this is all headed.
I bet there are little habits already present in your 24 hours. A stunning sunrise and sunset taking shape in your midst waiting for you to show up and stand in awe.
Within those limitations is an invitation, a call for you to expand your horizons. Let go of your original scheduled plan for the day, or the dreams you refuse to release because you don’t know what will happen if you do or who you will be without them in your back pocket.
Discover anew the wild life tucked away for you between the bookends of His arms- the One whose love knows no boundaries.
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