Morning Psalms

I have to wonder how those who hold to the belief that one's personal quiet time should be done first thing in the morning don't "backslide" terribly during the infant and toddler stages of motherhood.  Or maybe they just don't have kids.  Having someone in your family who wakes with--or before--the dawn and demands your undivided attention does not typically make for a peaceful and quiet time of early morning communion with your Creator.  Or maybe it's just me.

Truthfully, I have had about 3 mornings in the past 4 months in which I awoke before my daughter and managed to engage in a prayerful and healthy devotional time.  Now that Sam is working and has to be out the door early, and now that I am able to drink coffee again, and now that I am able to make it through my morning without being sick, my mornings have become much more pleasant.  Beautiful, even.

As I've dealt with this reality, I've also been wondering about and praying for a way to incorporate the Word of God into my daily routine in a way that includes my daughter.  She knows what the Bible is (Duh, it's a book that is very big, and covered in leather, with shiny page edges), and she was taught at a very young age the parlor trick of throwing her hands up in the air when we say, "Praise the Lord!"  She has her own board book of "Baby's First Bible" and she points out Jesus.  And the kitten and puppy who are on almost every page.  She often wants to pack her Bible with us in the diaper bag when we go to church.


For a little while, and not with incredible consistency, I have been reading one psalm aloud to my 19-month-old at breakfast.  She loves to hear words she recognizes:  high, strong, house, sky, face, horses, clap, and praise the Lord! 


It is really the most fun I've had reading the Word in a long time.  We laugh and clap and use hand gestures.  It is a very small practice, but if it were more elaborate, there's no way I would be able to keep it up.  Some days, this is pretty much the extent of my spiritual depth.  As it is, it is approachable, it is doable, and it is a lot of fun!


Usually I have to stop every few words to help her with her breakfast.  Yes, it takes us at least 10 minutes to read through about 20 sentences.  But it works for us right now, and it's so worth it.