Take Time for the Sunrise

Wednesday mornings have recently become especially difficult for our family, as I have to be at a local networking meeting at 7:30 AM.  My kids have always been able to wake up naturally at their own pace, so I knew this would take some adjustment for us.

On one of these Wednesdays, during our run of unusually warm weather, I had to wake my sleeping babes for daycare.  After much prodding and gentle encouragement, we were on our way out the door when my 3 year old said to me: “Why are we up in da middle of da night?” Good question.

Running behind, I quickly backed out of the driveway and made our way one block to daycare.  While shooing everyone out of the mini van, I was startled when my five year old, Owen, screamed excitedly:

Owen:  “Look Mom the sunrise!”

Andrew: “Where?!”

Owen: “Right there Andrew, that big orange ball coming through the trees. Mom, I’ve never seen the sunrise before, isn’t it beautiful?”

Andrew: “Ohhhh, it is beautiful Owen.”

Stopped in my tracks with a lump in my throat, I took a breath and spent two minutes watching the sunrise with my boys.  It occurred to me, that in five short years of life, Owen had never seen the sunrise and I was almost in too big of a hurry to share this miraculous moment with him. 

We've all been told to stop and smell the flowers; to take time to experience the beauty that surrounds us; it is rare that we actually do. Twice per day the sun gives us an opportunity to witness a miracle of nature, perhaps we should use it as a time-out for a minute of gratitude.