Early riser

My youngest daughter Emme has been a pretty light sleeper now for 17+ months. She takes great naps during the day but something about a restful night sleep always seems to elude her. There have been more times than not that she is the first one in the house awake and she likes to announce to the world that it is so. Usually I am the one who likes to be up and moving first, getting the coffee ready and having some quality alone time with God before the rest of the crew starts stirring. But Emme has made that more challenging now for the past year and a half.

Having her wake up so early isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's not like she is screaming for food or has a nasty diaper. She just wants to hang out with somebody. When I or anyone else goes to get her out of her crib, she is genuinely joyous to see us. She squeals and smiles and reaches out and then when you pick her up she wraps her arms around your neck as if she will never let go. Once outside her room she stays by my side, wanting to go where I go and sit where I sit. Even now as I type this she is under my elbow chattering away and drinking her juice while munching on Apple Jacks.

I love the fact that my daughter is excited to be with me every day. This never gets old and I hope it never changes. I would imagine that God desires the same kind of reaction and devotion from each one of us every day. When we wake up, are we pumped about spending quality time with our Father? Do we get a little bit giddy anticipating the time that we will spend with Him each day? Are we striving to hang around Him as much as possible just so that we can bask in His presence?

I would type more but little hands are pulling me away from my computer...