Deep in sleep, warm and cozy, my alarm suddenly blares its early morning warning. I grab my phone and quickly turn it off, knowing that there will be a second one that will buzz in a few minutes.
I know I am not the only one who does this every morning. My husband, Paul, is on the other side of the bed asleep, and our daughter, Isabella, is sprawled out in the middle of us. She has her hands and head on me and her feet up next to Paul’s face.
I know what some of you are thinking… “You let your child sleep in bed with you?”
And my answer is “not technically.”
Bella will sleep in her crib in her own room most of the night. Usually, around 5 or 5:30 in the morning, she wakes up and wants her mommy. And what would any mommy whose daughter is crying for her do? I go, pick her up, and get in some snuggle time before I have to get ready for work. This is probably my favorite part of the morning.
Now, back to the alarm going off.
I always have two alarms set just in case I sleep through or miss the first one. I can almost guarantee you that I will still lay in bed at least five more minutes after the second alarm goes off. As I was trying to wake up this morning, I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed. I just wanted to stay in that moment five more minutes enjoying the snuggle time with my little one. Then, it hit me. This is the way God feels about us.
He wants to be able to spend a few more minutes with us and would love for us to feel the same about Him. He wants us to love being in His presence so much that we keep hitting the snooze button to be able to spend just five more minutes with Him. So much can happen in those few minutes. It could change your whole outlook for the day. It could turn a day that has you down into a day that shows you why you need to be thankful. It could give you guidance on decisions you are trying to make. It could give you just a few moments to relax and be held in the arms of your Father.
Today, I challenge you to stop what you are doing and take just five more minutes to spend with God. Better is one day, one hour, or even just five minutes in His presence than a thousand anywhere else.
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere…” Psalm 84:10 (NIV)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda Hunter is a Certified Public Accountant, wife to Paul Hunter and mom to Isabella Jane.
(Photo: Jessica Lowell of Five Fourteen Photography)
