December: Remember the sabbath
Many Christians feel a sense of guilt when we hear anything about sabbath-keeping. It’s this thing we know we “should” do, but it just seems so complicated in this world we live in. The term often comes loaded with baggage - lots of rules and expectations for the “right” way to observe the sabbath. This month’s practice is meant to free families from the baggage and reclaim the delight of the sabbath.
The sabbath is described as a gift in scripture. While there were many debates about proper sabbath-keeping, Jesus freed sabbath from the bounds of rules and instead pointed to it as a delightful gift. It’s a day where we look around at the work of our lives, say, “Good enough for now,” and turn our focus to God. Sabbath is about remembering what’s most important and honoring it with a little time. Sabbath invites us to take a breath and come home to God. And it has undertones of justice. Sabbath is not just a commandment for the privileged, but for all creation. A full seventh of all life is to be spent resting and breathing in the wonders of God’s world. As you can see if you read Isaiah 58, sabbath isn’t “me time.” It’s a day to remove the yoke from all humanity and all creation, a day to “let the oppressed break free.” It’s a day to remember that God is our lord - we are not ruled by the other pulls of this world.
This month’s practice is an invitation to find a way to celebrate the sabbath in the unique time and place you find yourself in. It will be good for both the children and adults in your life!
The sabbath is described as a gift in scripture. While there were many debates about proper sabbath-keeping, Jesus freed sabbath from the bounds of rules and instead pointed to it as a delightful gift. It’s a day where we look around at the work of our lives, say, “Good enough for now,” and turn our focus to God. Sabbath is about remembering what’s most important and honoring it with a little time. Sabbath invites us to take a breath and come home to God. And it has undertones of justice. Sabbath is not just a commandment for the privileged, but for all creation. A full seventh of all life is to be spent resting and breathing in the wonders of God’s world. As you can see if you read Isaiah 58, sabbath isn’t “me time.” It’s a day to remove the yoke from all humanity and all creation, a day to “let the oppressed break free.” It’s a day to remember that God is our lord - we are not ruled by the other pulls of this world.
This month’s practice is an invitation to find a way to celebrate the sabbath in the unique time and place you find yourself in. It will be good for both the children and adults in your life!
Read It Isaiah 58:13-14
".... if you call the Sabbath a delight ..... then you will find your joy in the Lord."
".... if you call the Sabbath a delight ..... then you will find your joy in the Lord."
Pray It God, thank you for the gift of the sabbath. Help us to come home to you and each other every week, to wonder and marvel at your world and know that you are our Lord.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Do It
Claim your sabbath: Look at the pattern of your life. What is a weekly time that your household could celebrate the sabbath? Christians have traditionally thought of Sundays as sabbath, and that can work well, but you may also find that a different day or evening works better. Ideally, a sabbath is 24 hours long (in the Jewish tradition, that’s sundown to sundown). But any block of time is worthwhile! In our household, sabbath is currently one evening a week.
Choose a main focus for your sabbath: What will help your family come home to God and bask in God’s good world? Your sabbath may evolve to have multiple components, but focus on one to start with.
Here are some ideas to get you going:
Commit and do it! Tweak along the way as needed. As our children get older, we sometimes have to do makeup sabbath nights. And occasionally we fall out of the habit and have to get back in it. Remember that Jesus seemed to think there wasn’t a formula for sabbath - that it was more a way of being!
Claim your sabbath: Look at the pattern of your life. What is a weekly time that your household could celebrate the sabbath? Christians have traditionally thought of Sundays as sabbath, and that can work well, but you may also find that a different day or evening works better. Ideally, a sabbath is 24 hours long (in the Jewish tradition, that’s sundown to sundown). But any block of time is worthwhile! In our household, sabbath is currently one evening a week.
Choose a main focus for your sabbath: What will help your family come home to God and bask in God’s good world? Your sabbath may evolve to have multiple components, but focus on one to start with.
Here are some ideas to get you going:
- Eat a simple meal together. Maybe this is popcorn, cheese and apples, or pancakes, or even frozen pizza. In our household, it’s homemade bread and local, in-season fruits and vegetables. A meal that everyone likes and expects can give some of that sense of coming home to God. When I asked our 8-year-old what he thought God’s love might smell like, he responded, “Sabbath bread.”
- Enjoy nature. Maybe for your family, a weekly hike or other nature activity is the best way to come home to God.
- Bible stories. Maybe your sabbath will include reading from your Bible and doing an activity that springs from what you read.
- Acts of service. Is there some way you can serve in your community that can be part of your weekly sabbath?
- Creating. Maybe your sabbath involves getting out the art supplies, reading scripture together, and creating together. Or getting out the instruments and making music.
Commit and do it! Tweak along the way as needed. As our children get older, we sometimes have to do makeup sabbath nights. And occasionally we fall out of the habit and have to get back in it. Remember that Jesus seemed to think there wasn’t a formula for sabbath - that it was more a way of being!
Explore it: A Note from Tami
We were introduced to the idea of having special Sabbath family times shortly after we became parents. I will always remember with thankfulness and fondness the Sabbath evenings we spent together. I realize that they made a tremendous impact on everyone’s spiritual development as well as on our bond as a family. Were our Sabbath evenings perfect? No! Was it always easy? No! Did I sometimes feel like skipping it? Yes. But was it worth it? YES!! You will change how you go about it as children grow older and have more outside activities and again as they leave home and you find new ways to experience Sabbath as an all-adult household.
Following are some Additional Resources to help you get started or get new ideas:
Modern Day Sabbath: How to rest and refresh in a time crunched culture This article provides background thoughts for adults
30 ideas for celebrating the sabbath with your family (even with young kids)
Shine Bright Mom Blog
450+ Sabbath Ideas for Kids and Adults
Sometimes ads for various things show up on links. We are not promoting these items. However, we’ve chosen to include these websites and blogs simply because finding sites without any links is difficult and the sites we select do have valuable content. Feel free to ignore the ads!
We were introduced to the idea of having special Sabbath family times shortly after we became parents. I will always remember with thankfulness and fondness the Sabbath evenings we spent together. I realize that they made a tremendous impact on everyone’s spiritual development as well as on our bond as a family. Were our Sabbath evenings perfect? No! Was it always easy? No! Did I sometimes feel like skipping it? Yes. But was it worth it? YES!! You will change how you go about it as children grow older and have more outside activities and again as they leave home and you find new ways to experience Sabbath as an all-adult household.
Following are some Additional Resources to help you get started or get new ideas:
Modern Day Sabbath: How to rest and refresh in a time crunched culture This article provides background thoughts for adults
30 ideas for celebrating the sabbath with your family (even with young kids)
Shine Bright Mom Blog
450+ Sabbath Ideas for Kids and Adults
Sometimes ads for various things show up on links. We are not promoting these items. However, we’ve chosen to include these websites and blogs simply because finding sites without any links is difficult and the sites we select do have valuable content. Feel free to ignore the ads!
