"Hurry, or You'll Miss the Bus!"

There isn't a teen on the face of the planet who doesn't love to sleep in, especially when getting up is so important. When my kids were little, I can remember thinking, God has some sense of humor! They want to sleep late every day of the week, but they wouldn't dare sleep in on Saturday and miss cartoons!

One thing I try so hard to impress upon my own teenager is the need to get up anyway, whether or not he feels like it. If you stay up past a reasonable bedtime, certainly you will be exhausted in the morning! But you have to get up anyway. The world does not stop turning just because you are tired. You have obligations and responsibilities, and now is the time to learn that if you snooze, you will lose...a future job, a golden opportunity, or that once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a difference. Time waits for no man, or teen, for that matter.

God calls us to be wise stewards of all that he entrusts to us, whether it be time, talents, or money. When you waste or misuse time, you not only hurt yourself but also others. Being late to class interrupts the learning process and rattles the teacher. Having to rush around to get out the door on time only causes your day to start off stressful rather than relaxed. Learn to do what you need to do when you need to do it and life will be a whole lot more enjoyable and fruitful.

You have probably heard the saying, "the early bird catches the worm." It's not enough to rise to the occasion; you must also rise for it, whether it is to catch the bus so you can arrive at school on time or get to work on time so you don't lose your job. The Bible asks: "So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent house guest!" (Proverbs 6:9-11, The Message).

Next time your parents yell at you to get up, just do it! If your parents, who are more tired than you are, are able to get out of bed, fix your breakfast, and pack your lunch, then the least you can do is get up when they call you.