Happy May 1st and Good Morning, Sunshine!

Welcome, May! I’m sure we’re going to have plenty of May flowers because here in Austin we have had plenty of April showers — in fact, some crazy rainstorms, mixed with hail and strong winds. Our electricity went off and our outside doors locked where residents couldn’t come in.

We just don’t like hassles, do we? Aw! But, this new day – it’s one of those sunny days, and all is at peace kind-of-days. It could still be raining on the outside, but couldn’t we be a ray of sunshine when we get up and about?

I fondly remember singing this Sunday School song when I was a child:

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,
To shine for Him each day;
In ev’ry way try to please Him,
At home, at school, at play.

Chorus:
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

Jesus wants me to be loving
And kind to all I see,
Showing how pleasant and happy.
His little one can be.

I really do endeavor to be a sunbeam. I don’t need an alarm clock — mine is built-in — usually, right on time for me and my blogs and my early morning devotions. I am so thankful I woke up. I am vertical! I can dress myself and feed myself. Isn’t that reason enough to be in a good mood and in a state of joy and gratitude?

I love the feeling of a new day, with all the potential of new opportunities and moments to enjoy. Michael Bublé sings this song so well: “It’s a new dawn; It’s a new day; It’s a new life, for me, and I’m feeling good!”

It amazes me that many people proudly declare: “I am not a morning person so don’t talk to me until I’ve had a cup of coffee!” They imply “I’ll be in a bad mood until I get my coffee!”

Okay, so I’m big on being positive and optimistic. When I hear someone say that, I think, “And they are getting what they are saying. They will never be a morning person as long as that’s their state of mind.”

If I got up in a MOOD, my Mama would say: “You got up on the wrong side of the bed. Go get back to bed, please, and get up on the right side!” My Mama didn’t take too well to crankiness and grumpiness (and believe me, she had plenty to be cranky and grumpy about) so she taught me to bring sunshine to our mornings.

The truth is, if our family and friends must deal with our crankiness and grumpiness, just because we woke up and got up – even the happiest early morning spirits can be dampened.

God loves “morning” people. Isn’t that reason enough to become one? Here’s what we know about our Creator and early mornings:

~ “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. .” Lamentations 3:22-23

~ “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” – Proverbs 8:17

God promises that His great love for us and unfailing compassion (and mercies) are new every morning. So, whether we are a morning songbird getting up early or a night owl, every day is a brand-new day with God. We’re ALIVE! Joy and gratitude should be our get-up-and-go attitude!

Let’s determine to be morning sunbeams with spring in our steps and filled with the joy of the Lord as our strength! It’s going to be a GREAT new day and a blessed new month of May!

It’s a new dawn and a new day and I’m feeling good!