Wake up times can be interesting. Who knows what way it’s going to go today? Are your kids morning people? Jumping on your bed waking you up? Or screaming from the cot for you to get them up? Or are they grumpy bums, who just want you to get out and let them sleep forever? With us it changes day to day. Yesterday, my son screamed for us to get him up, but when I came in he absolutely lost the plot because I’m not his mother. Sorry bud – I can’t do much about that. Today he’s sad that it’s his mum getting him up because he’s still tired. Tomorrow he’ll probably be hoping it’s me getting him up this time to flip him out of the bed, only to be disappointed it’s his mum again. Who knows? We never know what we’re walking into.
But whatever the case, whatever your kids are like, they will wake up at some point. Every day. And that is something that you already have to deal with. On a daily basis. So why not turn it into a discipleship moment? Here are 4 (+1) ways you might choose to do that:
1) The World is Still Spinning
Did you know that the world is still spinning? The sun has come up yet again. That didn’t stop last night while you were sleeping. Do you know why? Because God is the one still spinning the world. He is the one who makes the sun come up. He gives us every day to enjoy. Let’s thank him for that.
The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
Psalm 74:16-17
2) Breath in your lungs
But not only has he kept the world going. He has kept your heart beating. Again. Today God has filled your lungs with air. Again. He has kept you alive. What a wonderful gift. If God didn’t keep us alive, we would all have dropped dead overnight. But he did keep us alive! We owe our life to the great Maker of all.
In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:10
3) One Day Closer
It’s another day down. And guess what that means? We are one day closer. No – not closer to your birthday. Well.. yes we are one day closer to your birthday. But we are one day closer to something even better than that. Remember how Jesus promised he would come back one day? Well, we’ve made it through another day in which he hasn’t come back yet. And that means we are one day closer to when he does come back! I can’t wait, can you?
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11
4) God’s Patience Means Salvation
Good morning! It’s another day God has given us. Quick question: did Jesus return last night? No! Trust me – you will know beyond a doubt when Jesus returns. (Side note: don’t believe every Tom, Dick and Harry who tells you that Jesus has returned – Matt 24:22-28). Why do you think he didn’t come back last night? Has he forgotten his promise? No! He never forgets a promise he makes. He is still planning on coming back one day. Nah – the Bible tells us why he hasn’t come back yet. It’s because he has more saving to do. Did you know that not everyone trusts in Jesus? And what happens to someone who doesn’t trust in Jesus? Yeah – they will get punished in hell (*insert super sad face here). But God still has more people to save, so he is waiting patiently. How good is God?
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
2 Pet 3:15
5) Bonus
Off the back of any of these ideas, ask your kid how they might choose to live today. Since God made today, who will you praise? Since God gave you breath today, who should you live for? If it’s one day closer to Jesus’ return, what can you do today, to be ready for when he comes back? If he has given us today so that more people might hear about Jesus – what is something that you might choose to do today?
How good would it be if we could all use the first moments of our kids’ days as discipleship moments? Talk about getting up on the right side of the bed. But as we know – kids are sometimes so on the wrong side of the bed, that nothing will work. That’s ok. We have those days. Or weeks… Or months. But you know what? There’s always tomorrow to try again. And if there’s not, it means that Jesus has returned, and he will take the parenting responsibility off our hands forever!
I hope these 4 (+1) ideas have been helpful! See here more instalments of the 100.