December 27, 2013

The end of another year has arrived. Difficult to believe and yet it is here! This may be a time when you are considering the year ahead and changes you want to make for your self and home. If so, I have one for you to consider that has the potential to bring your family closer and gift you with greater peace

My suggestion is to make one day of each week a Sabbath, meaning a day of rest for you and your family. I’m not talking about ‘getting religion’. I’m suggesting a day of rest, or at least less ‘doing’ that benefits everyone in your family. The definition of Sabbath is “a day of religious observance and abstinence from work.” I wasn’t sure about the religious part so I looked that up and found a gem, “a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.” Perfect!

By choosing one day a week where you do very little, or only what you truly want to do, you model the ‘supreme importance’ of slowing down, connecting with self and family. These can be days that create connection within your home that renews everyone for the coming week. Similar to an earlier blog I wrote about building connection by dining together, having one full day a week in your home can build the foundation of your family that empowers everyone to go back out into the world fortified and centered.

I’ve never been one to think that going to church was supremely important for God. It is hard to imagine Him/Her getting mad at me for not coming to a specific building once a week. It is my belief that Sabbath was proposed so we would slow down, connect with ourselves and our inner connection to the Divine, which defines, uplifts, guides and supports us. Going to church offers a way to connect and reflect as well. With this in mind, the old tradition of literally doing nothing on Sundays makes sense.

How you create a Sabbath is an individual choice; there is no right or wrong way to do it. It may have nothing to do with the Divine, or it may. When I started this with my daughters, it was as simple as me not driving anywhere that day. No play dates were scheduled, no errands were run, and nobody went anywhere. This kept us home for the day. There were Sundays I gardened and bored children would come and sit with me. Beautiful and meaningful conversations transpired. Some days I organized recipes and planned meals for the coming week. On others I truly rested and just read a book with a nap in the afternoon.

The point is to be home, around family, and available to be with one another. When children were little, it was easier to plan family games, cooking together, and other fun activities for our Sabbath. As teenagers and reluctant to be told what to do, it was enough that we were all in the house. Eventually, we would connect over the day without me forcing an agenda. It fed us all deeply.

If you had one full day a week to do as you pleased in a restful state of mind, what would that look like?
If you already take one day a week to be home as a family, what do those days entail?
Share your thoughts and ideas so we may all be inspired to deeper connections in the New Year!