Saturday Morning

Family tradition in the form of pancakes

Our Saturday morning is one of the things that I look forward to the most. When I wake up Saturday morning, the sun turning the night into the low gray hue of dawn, I get up and head to the living room. I lower myself into my large overstuffed recliner to do my devotionals. The week has brought me here. 

Typically, I get up between 4:30 and 5:30am during the work week. I plop myself into the same overstuffed recliner and do my devotionals, but this time by the glow of the lamp that looms behind me. The night still looms in its old age, destined to give way to that early morning light. But as of yet, it is dark. The coffee brews, sputtering its caffeinated concoction into the carafe in pitiful bursts. My house is asleep. I generally reserve about an hour to get ready for work, eat breakfast, and do my devos, two hours if I get up at 4:30. These mornings are special in their own way. 

But Saturday morning is where we are, in the same dangerously comfortable overstuffed recliner. Notebook, Bible, and pen, scribbling notes and thoughts with varying degrees of legibility depending on the hour of morning. A whole day lies ahead. But one important tradition marks the true starting line of today's race, a pancake breakfast.

My wife makes the most delicious oat milk and honey pancakes. We started making these kinds last year. When we moved into our new house at the beginning of this year, we decided to make it a tradition. Every Saturday, we have pancakes and coffee. Something about breakfast before 8 o'clock has its own quality. And a family breakfast draws it out and gives it legs to stand on. 

Over breakfast, we discuss the day's agenda, discuss worldview issues and a dozen other things. Our Saturday breakfast is the command room for the mission at hand. This is one of the many reasons why I look forward to this time. About this time our son, who is 5 months old, usually goes back down for his first nap of the day. We get to watch him get those wonderful sleepy eyes and heavy eyelids. 

I believe it is important to start traditions, to establish routines no matter the season. Anything helps and creates something to look forward to. My wife and I desire to create spaces and places for family time. Something that we still have a long way to go, but we are hopeful. What are your morning routines? Have you made a space and place for family time? Leave a comment and let's have a conversation!