Getting Up Early Can Reduce the Stress of Your Day

I once heard a very wise lady say that every mother should be up early to have quiet time before her children wake up. Having been a mom for 8 years now I have learned many reasons why this is so important! But I've also learned why we do not do this.

Proverbs 31:15 says, She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

I enjoy reading about the virtuous woman and striving to be more like her. It's sad that it's not as easy as it sounds. Just because we want to do the right thing and follow what we're taught doesn't mean we actually do it.

Stay at home moms do not have a time that they have to be at their workplace and clocking in. Many good Christian ladies are striving to train their children in the ways of the Lord but lack this very important start to their day.

I do not like to think of myself as not having much character but I have learned that making this a practice in my daily life is a step of character. Rising early is a habit we must form, and in order to make it a habit, we have to have the character to do so. You either have this habit or you don't.

I find that one little part of the problem of a mother not getting up early enough is who tells her to get up. Do you get up by an alarm clock? Maybe you are blessed with an internal alarm clock! You always awake at the same time. You may be able to have this internal alarm clock after forming a habit of waking at the same time every day.

Do you wait until you hear your kids stirring before you get up? If that is so, you are letting your kids tell you when to get up!

Let me encourage you mothers to make an effort in this area. Most of us have either not formed a good habit or we have. A few areas I thought of that rising early helps me with are these:

* Time to get my devotions in with no interruptions.
* Make plans for the day. Meals, errands, assignments for each child, etc.
* Put my dishes away. I enjoy quiet when I'm in the kitchen so I can think and pray.
* Time to bring overall orderliness to the house.

Memorize this verse. Pro 31:15
(15) She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

In order to follow this great advice we have to form a habit of getting up early. You can strengthen your character. You are not too old to form new habits. Don't make excuses!