Sabbath = Rest + Delight
When you hear the word ‘Sabbath,’ what comes to mind? I think modern Christians picture one of two scenarios:
#1 Sabbath means you and your family sit quietly in your house all day long. You are not allowed to work out, to make dinner, or go to any kids’ soccer games. The highlight of your day will be a family read-aloud from the Bible. OR #2 Sabbath means you get to sleep in until noon and no one asks you to do anything for them all day long while you read a novel in a hammock.
The first scenario doesn’t sound like any fun, and the second doesn’t sound at all realistic in a mom’s world!! Maybe you don’t see Sabbath practiced in the circles you are in and so you don’t know what it looks like with kids. I get that! Practicing Sabbath requires a mindset shift!
In our conversation earlier this week with Shireen Eldridge on Wire Talk, (who has been practicing Sabbath for 8 years in a home with 4 kids!) I was reminded that Sabbath is a gift from God. It is a way of life that God has designed for us. This day of rest gives us a path to walk for life, so we can make it for the long haul, especially when we are momming from sun up to sun down!
Rather than seeing Sabbath as a restrictive day when we can’t be productive, we can view it as an invitation to celebrate the goodness of God. To enjoy him, and to enjoy the family and friends around us, freed from the distractions that fill the other 6 days of our week. Rather than seeing Sabbath as unrealistic for our family, we can start small and see what happens.
Here are a few practical tips if you want to begin following this rhythm of work + rest in your life!
Pick one day a week, and focus on incorporating intentional rest and delight into that day. Psst- it doesn’t have to be a weekend day if that doesn’t work for your family!
Get creative and think about what you long to REST from one day a week and then work the other 6 days to make it happen! Rest doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping in and not feeding anyone, that may not be practical for you. Maybe it does mean doing an extra load of laundry on Friday so you can ignore the laundry on Saturday! Maybe it means eating off paper plates so there are no dishes to wash!
Get your family on board by focusing on the DELIGHT part of Sabbath. Ask them, what sounds delightful to you? Is it eating a really special dessert? Is it playing video games with Mom and Dad? Riding bikes on the greenway? Watching a family movie together? Have everyone write their ideas down and make sure you all have some delight to look forward to on Sabbath.
Consider cutting down on or cutting out technology that day. Maybe it’s the one day a week you don’t check your email or scroll social media. I think technology zaps us of our ability to rest more than we really know.
Sabbath should be a time where you recharge, when you remember that it is God who provides, and when your family comes together. Make it something that works for your family! And remember, practice makes perfect, just keep at it. :)
If you’re intrigued by this idea, I’d encourage you to listen in to this week’s podcast, I think you’ll come away excited to give Sabbath a try!