As the northern hemisphere moves into fall, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler. The sun that illuminated and warmed the room each morning peeks in at a later hour, making it harder to get out of bed ready for the day.

Our bodies are programed with a circadian rhythm, which means that we function better when we are awake during the day and asleep at night. Just ask a nurse who works the night shift about how that can mess with your health and how hard they have to work to get adequate sleep during daylight hours. Ask an Alaskan who has only a few hours of daylight during the winter. Doctors have proven that our exposure to sun and daylight affects our physical and mental health. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight.

For Wake-up Wednesday, let’s take a moment to reflect on the effects of waking up to Son-light or a lack of exposure to sufficient Son-light… Son-light illuminates our way, warms our soul, and prepares us to face the day. Our body and soul are made to crave a relationship with the Son of God. We function better physically and emotionally when we get adequate Son-light each day.

What blessing is the Son-light in your life?