Savor the Sabbath
Every Day of Rest you wake up, have breakfast, shower, get dressed, head out the door.
You drive to church, greet friends, worship, learn, say goodbye to friends, then pile back into the vehicle just in time to cue the whines of the littlest people in your house: "I'm huuuuuuungry!"
Then it's run in the door, feed the people, scramble for naps, and ...
By the time the house is somewhat settled, you feel, well, less than rested.
You want to have a day of rest? Want to be a hero in your kids' eyes? Want to remember what Sabbath is supposed to mean?
Savor it.
The night before, ask your hubby if he's up for a park outing post-service. Depending on his personality, he may either look at you like you've grown a third eye, or shrug his shoulders and say, "Why not?" If he's game at all, put yourself into prep mode. Trust me. Do the legwork the night before, and you will enjoy this day like no other.
First, pick a spot. A park you all love? A hiking locale that you've always wanted to try out? A lake where you can lounge?
Then, pack a fuss-free lunch. Keep it simple; one dish that everyone can partake of is the easiest, in my opinion. I always opt for taco salad, because it's one of our faves and requires very little in the way of prep, toting, or serving. Some chopped lettuce in a bag, lidded bowls of seasoned black beans, diced tomatoes, corn, and shredded cheddar packed into a cooler alongside a massive bag of tortilla chips and some paper bowls and we're good to go.
Next, police the church clothes. You want to be presentable in the fellowship hall but comfortable on the playing field. That can take some doing, so think ahead.
Finally, toss some wiffle balls & bats, soccer balls, or whatever your family's favorite group sports require into a pile. If you're really good, you can even sneak the cooler & toys to the back of the van without anyone noticing and keep the surprise element intact up until the last moment.
Trust me--this one is worth the night of planning. Your husband will thank you for the break from the typical rat race, your children will think you're amazing, and you'll have at least one "Life is beautiful" sigh in the course of the afternoon. Guaranteed.
1 comment:
I whole-hardheartedly echo this recommendation. Sunday afternoons without rain find us out hiking until supper time (we go home after church to change and eat). For some reason Sunday afternoons breed demanding and fussy kids at our house which leads to parents without a Sabbath attitude. Outside, we get exercise and celebrate creation. Great post.
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