Five morning minutes for the Lord can work wonders

By Stacy Lamorte
NOLA Catholic Parenting

Recently, I was asked to be a speaker at the upcoming St. Dominic’s Women’s Summit called “Harmony of Hearts: Confronting Loneliness, Conquering Distraction, Championing Justice” which will be held on Sept. 14.  My topic is distraction, which I deal with a lot on a day-to-day basis as an ADHD Coach. This is not a shameless plug, I promise; it is meant to give you hope!

I had no idea so many people suffer with distractibility, with or without ADHD.  Before choosing this specialization, more and more of my neurotypical clients expressed the inability to be truly present at home and at work.  We can waste our time blaming it on all kinds of things, but what it really comes down to is a change of heart through changing our behavior, which is the only thing we can control.

How do we combat this epidemic in our culture?  One heart at a time.  If we can spend time each morning quieting our hearts and spending time with the Lord, it changes everything.  Even if it is only five minutes, that devotional time spent calming our minds before the rush of our morning routine begins will fortify our minds and hearts and tune them into God’s message and purpose for us that day. 

With school starting, this is a perfect time to build a new daily routine.  Hopefully, you know (or maybe you have forgotten over the blissfully lazy summer months) what time you need to awaken so that your morning isn’t harried.  This daily routine requires you to set your alarm just five minutes earlier and to get up when the alarm sounds.  When it does, give God some message of gratitude for keeping you safe through the night and for giving you the gift of this day.

Take five minutes to focus on your breath, counting to three as you inhale and then three again as you exhale.  If you still have thoughts racing through your mind, try saying something like “I breathe in God’s peace; I exhale anxiety”; or “Thank you, God”; or Psalm 46:11, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This is putting your trust in God, letting him know that no matter what you have decided is on your agenda for that day, you trust him to order your steps and make straight the path that he desires most for you.  When you feel anxiety throughout the day, stop and recenter yourself just like you did the first thing this morning. 

How would you show up differently and make this investment in yourself every day?  How would it change the atmosphere of your home?  You may be tempted to “do something” like wipe off the kitchen table, put laundry away or send an email while the house is quiet. But by spending those first five minutes in silence with the Lord, you will be blessed beyond measure.  

Ask the Lord to order your steps for the day and let him tell you what he wants you to do next.

Stacy Glynn LaMorte is a wife and mother of three teenagers. She is a Personal Trainer and is also enjoying her new profession as an ADHD and Life Coach to adolescents and adults.  She feels that coaching is a culmination of her passions: faith, family, education and fostering change. In addition, she enjoys spending time with her family and her two dogs, gardening, writing, traveling, reading and exercising.