Good morning, Heavenly Father

The scent of good food waffling through the air from Mom’s kitchen was an everyday staple around our home, especially early morning. Those early mornings consisted of the scent of fresh bread, coffee from a percolator, and a huge pot of creamy yellow-orange cheese grits. Just thinking of the first bite of the warm, smooth-buttery-flavored substance still makes me smile.
If I managed to sleep through the fragrance of breakfast, there was always Daddy’s favored wake-up call. He would enter our rooms with songs like “Where Oh Where Has My Puppy Dog Gone” or “Mama’s Little Baby Likes Shortening Bread.” The songs and the bear hugs that followed were often worth the extra effort of pretending to be asleep.
Oh, the joy of childhood memories. I believe my parents’ early morning escapades are why I love the early morning part of the day. Early mornings are the do-over-start-a-fresh moments from the previous day. It is the time I wake up with a clean slate and the opportunity to be a better person than the day before. It does not mean the day ahead will be perfect, nor will I be; it only means I will begin anew.
A friend often texts me, “Good morning, Pastor! It’s a beautiful day. I have prayed you up, so have a blessed day.” Now, I will be the first to admit that the text is not my Mom’s cheese grits or my Dad’s out-of-tune song; however, it reminds me that my day is in the caring hands of the Heavenly Father. The knowledge that every new day brings endless possibilities has the power to banish any morning blues with the first light of the sun.
I am not saying my day will be perfect or there will be no conflict. I am saying that the knowledge of the presence of the Lord makes the imperfections and conflict trifling; in His presence, mountains become molehills. The Prophet Isaiah will teach us that fear and discouragement are not a part of our lives. The Lord is with us, strengthening and helping us with every step we take. The righteous hand of God protects His children (Isaiah 41:10).
King David understood what it meant to trust God and turn the world’s problems over to the Kingdom. He wrote numerous times about righteous crying out to the Lord and finding deliverance through grace (Psalm 34:17-18). The Lord is our port in the storm, a refuge; He is strength when we are weakened by the winds of misfortune (Psalm 46:1). Scripture teaches us the Lord directs our steps and that He finds joy by being involved in every detail of our lives. We may occasionally stumble, but we can never fall beyond His reach (Psalm 37:23-24).
Our parents found a way to make our mornings enjoyable, and their loving morning routine taught us the value of starting the day on a “good note.” Just as they embraced the early hours with warmth and joy, we can also greet each morning with gratitude and faith. By acknowledging the presence of our Lord with a “Good Morning, Heavenly Father,” we can begin each day with renewed hope and confidence. As we carry the memories of our parents’ morning escapades, let us hold to the assurance that God is with us every step of the way, shaping our paths and illuminating our journey with His unwavering love and grace.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails (Proverbs 16:9 & 19:21).

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.