If you’re anything like me, you don’t like workday mornings. Especially Monday mornings, like this one. I don’t exactly leap out of bed shouting “Gleeful golly gumdrops! Another work week has begun!” (Maybe I would if “gleeful golly gumdrops” was actually a part of my vocabulary.) But I recently discovered a song that seriously makes me dance. Picture me dancing frenetically with awkward fist pumping, jumping up and down and causing the cats to flee under the nearest piece of furniture for safety.
True story.
It’s called, appropriately enough, “Good Morning.” Remember Mandisa from American Idol? She sings it. (She, by the way, is a perfect example of how God’s way is not our own: she wanted to win Idol, no doubt, but the Lord had a much better plan for her. Idol was only the beginning.) Seriously, it makes me dance. I’m putting this song on a CD to listen to every day on my way to work. Because why shouldn’t I begin my day dancing? Why shouldn’t I begin my day with a smile on my face?
Some lyrics that speak to my heart:
Each new day is an opportunity to start over. I dwell on discouraging yesterdays too often—and what is it doing for me? Absolutely nothing. Wave it away.
This song reminds me that every morning should be a good morning, not just the mornings on Saturday or the mornings on a day I have something fun planned: every morning I’m alive is a good morning, because I’m incredibly blessed and I’m resting in the promise of the Lord’s faithfulness and justice.
He will give me all the strength that I need to get through everything the coming day will hand me. And let me tell you, I have had some rough days at work this year. But when I can not only acknowledge but truly believe that everything that comes my way is either decreed by Him or allowed by Him, suddenly the weight of circumstances disappears. Suddenly every morning is a good morning. Truly, what is there to be grumpy about?
So—let’s see if you can resist dancing like a maniac and scaring away your cats or your coworkers. And just try not to smile or tap your foot. I dare you.
LOVE it. And I love that it gets stuck in my head, making me feel like dancing all day long, even when the kid with the droopy pants tells me to stop bugging out and the girl with the ginormous fake nails tells me that she doesn’t care about passing. Inside, I’m still dancing. And it’s glorious.
Are you a morning person? What do you do in the morning to help you get started with the right attitude?
Great song...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post!! It is a great follow up to the sermon at church yesterday about how we should be missional and live for God every day, especially at our jobs-and not just Sundays.
ReplyDeleteMandisa is cool. :-)
I can't listen to the song until I get home from work but I know exactly what you mean with a wake up song! Back when I was in high school, I was on a student ambassador trip in Europe and our tour guide would play Reef's "Place Your Hands" every morning. Seriously. EVERY morning. Sometimes twice. The song grew on all of us and I would be a liar if I said I didn't listen to it still! :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how quickly we forget that EVERY morning is a gift and blessing from God? It's an opportunity to glorify the Lord! Thanks for this reminder because I was definitely off to a slow start this morning!
ReplyDeleteWhat a joyful song and great reminder that his mercies are new every morning!
ReplyDeleteOoh, thank you for a song to play in the morning, maybe my kids won't be so grumpy before they head off to school after listening to it. This is the day the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it! Thanks for the reminder and the song!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a catchy, happy song! What a great way to wake up in the morning! :)
ReplyDeleteNeeded this reminder today. Reminds me of that verse in Lamentations about His mercies being new every morning. Such great news. Plus, I think starting any day off w/ some exuberant dancing is the best!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Mandisa started out on Idol! I suck at mornings. But you are right. We have everything to be thankful for and I need to remember that a little bit better. Thanks for sharing! ~taps toes~
ReplyDeleteWhile a great "Good Morning" song, it apparently is not a good choice for the alarm clock! Sorry ;-)
ReplyDeleteUnless you want to jump halfway out of bed when the alarm goes off...
DeleteI am a morning person. Unless I didn't sleep the night before, I am wide awake and talking chirpy within ten minutes. I tone it down for the husband.
ReplyDeleteOf course, we have no kids yet, so no telling how that will change in the future. :)
NOT a morning person! Our local radio station ruined this song for me by playing it repetitively while the morning hosts make corny jokes. Why do they ruin perfectly acceptable songs?!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I fully expect that I might ruin it for myself if I continue to listen to it so often. But usually when a song makes me THIS giddy it takes a bit for me to grow tired of it. I had never heard the full song until last week!!
Deletei am pretty good after the first sip of hot coffee :). we home roast our own beans. a bad cup from somewhere else definitely doesn't make the mornings as perky!
ReplyDeletewhoa I want to seriously come visit you now!! Katie and I love a good cup of coffee. And Erin, this song is awesome...I wish Mandisa could come to my apartment every morning and wake me up to it. Full band and all.
Deletehahaha it’s funny that you say that about wanting the full band…Rick set it to be my alarm this morning and there might as WELL have been a full band blaring next to me for how loud it was. I seriously jumped halfway to the ceiling. I think I need something calmer to initially wake me up…the full band could come after maybe a half an hour or so, though. ;)
DeleteI'm going to think of you whenever I hear this song...and that will make me smile. Cheesy but true!
ReplyDeleteHope you kicked Monday's hiney!
it's not really a morning thing..
ReplyDeleterather a "do-not-wake-me-from-my-slumber-no-matter-what-time-of-day-it-is" kind of thing.
Pleasant for everyone else. Obviously.
I was doubtful until I actually listened to it here. Now I'm a believer. Thanks for making my mornings a little bit brighter, Erin :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad a bit of "deep thought" was coated with "funny Erin". We like you that way.
ReplyDeleteIn a nutshell: I start my morning, eyes 3/4 shut, with milk-less coffee these days, which I have found makes me grumpy...(post to come!)...then I smack together some pbj sandwiches for the kids...hustle to get them to school...and when all is quiet, I come back to my humble abode and read the Good Word. THEN my day gets started! Afterwards, I rock out with the pup to my favorite praise & worship CD...and we sing very loudly. (Yes, my puppy sings with me. She's quite talented.)
I think I should go listen to this Mandisa song now. I had the privilege of hearing her, in person, last year at a Women of Faith conference. She was awesome!
P.S. I think you should do a vlog to show us how you fist pump and scare the cats. Entertainment for US at your expense. ;)