Sundays

Sundays are a special day for me. Set apart and unique. It’s a selah. A day to breathe. Rest. Think. Be refreshed.

It felt weird not to blog but I’ve made the decision that I won’t be blogging on Sundays.

My former boss required his employees to have a protected day off each week.  A full day of no work.  No thoughts of work either.  I day of “not-normal-life”. My day off each was Thursdays.  It looked like: no morning alarm and no schedule. I just did things that brought me joy and rest. Because my job was all about people, my day off was people-free. Because my job had a fast-schedule, my day off was empty of plans.

My boss was strict about us keeping this day off he nicknamed “Sabbath”. Our team worked hard for 5 days, were on-call for 1 more day and then rested fully for 1.  Having a day off was a hard discipline to keep.  It was hard to not think about work things.  Hard to protect my mind, heart and energy level.  Over the years I watched peers in this industry burn out fast.  I am convinced it was because of a lack of “Sabbath” in their lives.

Now, I am an at-home / work-from-home Mum.  I don’t have the luxury of ever having a real “day off”.

I’ve had to be really purposeful in crafting a “rest day” for myself.  A day that is different and set-apart.  A day to breathe, rest, think and be refreshed.

He replied, “The LORD has appointed tomorrow as a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. On this day we will rest from our normal daily tasks.  – Exodus 16:23 NLT (emphasis added)

My day off each week is now Sundays.  It looks like: alarm set for church, play keys & sing and worship with my church family, dig in my Bible, pray, think, breathe.  The kids love their classes and I love getting to have alone time. Afterwards we grab gleanings, make a simple lunch and get the kids down for “nap” (16 month old) and “rest time” (3.5 year old).  Then we chill on the couch and watch a movie together. Sometimes I head off and do something alone. It’s my personal version of Sabbath: “A rest from my normal daily tasks.”

When God told us to rest a day each week, He was not being controlling or arbitrary. He knows what our bodies and lives need. (Mark 2:27 “The Sabbath was made to benefit man…”).  Wonderfully, my husband is a huge fan of me getting down time and alone time.  Sometimes I feel guilty about my “day off” but I believe that God’s Word is true and right.  God’s ways are for our best.  His Ways bring me Life.  Having a rest day gives me strength and joy for the 6 days of serving my family.

Have you considered crafting a personalized day off?  Do you have a day that is different from the others?  Do you have a day that is set apart for rest and refreshment?  What does it look like for you?