“O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace”
The sound of chattering mechanical birds awakened me. It was my teen son’s phone alarm bellowing cuckoo clock noises through the house.
How does he sleep through this noise? And why did he set his alarm for one hour before we need to get up? How long should I listen to this racket before I get out of bed and make it stop?
I stumbled to his room and banged wearily on the door. Thump, thump, thump! Through the cacophony, I heard a slight rustling and then blessed silence.
“Sorry mom” a sleepy voice murmured through the door. At that moment he was feeling defensive about his failure and maybe my response should take that into consideration before I make the situation worse.
Some days start with unwelcome alarm. How does alarm transform into peace?
Maybe teasing the sleepyhead instead of berating. Maybe by plotting some sweet revenge or a redemptive opportunity like guess who gets to clean up breakfast today.
I don’t feel peace, but I can choose to reframe my thoughts through remembering what my end goal is.
My end goal is for my kid to awaken by himself and therefore be able to keep a job and live a responsible life.
Another end goal is for me to remember within my own heart that this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
Greeting the day with peace often starts by tidying up and preparing the night before. Being ready to greet the day helps me to welcome its arrival. Taking the moment to pray is a way of greeting each day and setting a tone of gratitude for it. St. Philaret’s prayer reminds us that each day comes from the Lord. Let us be glad in the days He has given us.