Coffee, Play and Presence
Sarah Grace and I have developed a morning routine. I call it “Coffee and Play.” After getting her out of the crib and changing her diaper, I lay her on her play mat to grab at toys and put them in her mouth. I sit quietly nearby, sipping my coffee and watching. Sometimes we listen to the Winnie The Pooh audiobook or Ellie Holcomb’s spring album, Sing. Other times, we just sit in the quiet of the morning, enjoying each other's company.
This time in the morning isn’t one of great engagement. While I speak to her and tickle her occasionally, I generally allow her fifteen to thirty minutes to roll around and explore on her own. This gives me time to drink my coffee and become a functioning, awake human being.
Although this time in the morning is relatively quiet, with us functioning parallel rather than together, it is one of my favorite parts of the day with her. She plays, I sip, and even though we are minimally interacting, we are still together. I love that we have our little routine. It gives me something to look forward to each morning, a time to be with my baby in a way that suits us both.
Routine is important for all humans. It’s even more important with a baby! While spontaneity in life is necessary to keep things interesting, routine gives us something to fall back on– a place to land. I am not suggesting you need to be on a strict schedule with your baby (Trust me, I’m not) or that every moment must be thought out and structured– but having a few built-in moments throughout the day can make a big difference and give each of you something to look forward to.
Just as coffee and play centers my mornings, time with God centers my soul. We need to schedule time to be in the presence of those we love. Isn’t the same true, then, with our Heavenly Father? We need time with him– time to sit and be in his presence– sipping our coffee while he works in our souls. This could be through evening prayer, early morning Bible reading, or even listening to worship music in the afternoon. But having a routine with the Lord is essential to building a relationship with him.
I value my early mornings with my baby, just as I value my evenings with the Lord. I wonder, what do your routines look like? Do you take time to be with God each day? To sit quietly with those you love? Whatever your answer may be, know that it is never too late to start.
