One Good Day

I am supremely proud of a decision that I made this morning. A decision that I have contemplated for several weeks now and could not follow through on. I don't know about tomorrow and the day after, but today, I succeeded.

Up until this past December I was faithful to get up early and workout with my girlfriends every weekday morning. We did this consistantly for almost a year. Oh, sure, I had my mornings where I slept in and my peeps did the workout without me but for the most part, I was there.
Just before Christmas, however, my dad was preaching up a storm about the things we put before God and I felt convicted. My morning quiet time had slowly disappeared from my schedule and try as I might to find another time slot to set apart on a regular basis, I found myself ending each day realizing that I hadn't visited with God much at all. Subtly, I had made a choice that I couldn't bear to face--my workouts were more important to me than spending time in prayer and bible study. This was a true reflection of my value system and I didn't like what I saw.
What were my options? I couldn't see a way to fit it all in and I couldn't imagine getting up earlier or staying up later. If I quit working out in favour of the spiritual pursuits, I would get fat and unhealthy and that couldn't be God's will either!
In a step of faith I decided to put aside my reasoning and trust God on this one. I would attempt to get up earlier, but if I couldn't, then my exercise time would become my quiet time instead. If Jesus could turn water into wine and feed 5000 people with a little boy's lunch, then I would believe that He would make a way where I saw no way.
At first this worked great. I didn't get up earlier so my friends did the workouts without me while I worshipped instead. I was finding the time in the evening to exercise on my own--albeit in a much more relaxed manner. I also began to make better choices in my eating and this year of committment to healthy choices was birthed in the process. Then slowly and steadily, over a matter of time, the holidays, and several family illnesses--I began to sleep through the quiet time and slack on the evening workouts. What was I going to do now?  I was worse off than before!
I contemplated my options. I could go back to morning workouts and at least be successful in one area with a hope that eventually I'd get back on track in the other or I would have to "buckle up" and haul my butt out of bed super early. I didn't like either of those choices.
In the meantime, I noticed that I would sleep soundly all night long until 4:30ish, wake to go to the bathroom and sleep fitfuly until 6:30am. I began to see the futility of those 2 post-bathroom hours, but at 4:30am, every cell in my body said "It's the middle of the night--more sleep!" and I would inevidably snuggle back into my warm, welcoming bed.
This morning was different. I made that gut-wrenching choice to dawn my robe, scoop up my workout clothes and go downstairs. I had time to do manage both of my priorites and the expected energy crash never happened--I had a great day!
I'm not sure about tomorrow and the days that follow after that, but somehow, I know that what is really important to me will prevail in the end.