Taking a Sabbath When You're a Mom

One of the common things that I run into with myself and other moms is that we are always just so busy.  We want to do everything we can for our families but in doing that we are moving away from the long ago tradition of taking a Sabbath day.  A day to turn off the hectic buzz of life itself and to tune into what really matters. 

I have no magic answers and there are no secrets that can make this happen overnight but let's talk through this idea of taking a Sabbath day.

#1. Decide that it's important to you. 

There are two reasons why it is important to me to have a day of rest.  One is that God tells us to.  Exodus 34:21 Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. 
The second reason that a day of rest is important for me, is the health benefits that go along with it.

The hard part of this point is not debating that God tells us to or that it would be good for us. The hard part is that you have to decide that it's important enough that you're willing to make it a priority.  The idea of a day off is amazing but the reality of making that happen might be overwhelming if you don't have a plan. 

#2 Have a plan and follow through.

If you simply say you're going to rest on Saturday this week, but don't come up with a plan to make that happen, it never will.  As a wife and mom you know that there are things you do each week.  Laundry, house work, grocery shopping, cooking meals, and much more.  Plan your week in a way that you know when everything will get done and then do it.

*Perhaps the most critical part in having a day of rest is what happens on the other six days.

Pray for increased productivity on the other six days and trust God to bless your efforts.  Then on your day of rest choose not to worry about all the things you should be doing.

#3 The reality of a day of rest.
 
Be flexible. You are still wife and mom and things seldom go exactly as planned.

A day of rest doesn't mean a day being lazy. Do something you love. Gardening, a day at the beach, read a book, or go on a family outing.

Recognize that a Sabbath for you might not be an entire day maybe only an afternoon.

Don't create rules for what you can or can't do on your day off.

Use it as a time to disconnect from your work and technology and a time to connect with family and friends.

Separating one day from the frenzied blur of the other six allows us to slow time and savor it's goodness. To snuggle our little ones just a little more, to hug our spouses a little longer, and to open our hearts to new growth and deeper love.