Saving Sabbath
When I was little, I spent a lot of time at my grandparent’s house. Sometimes my cousins would be there, and that was always fun. But many times, it would just be me, as I was an only child at the time. They lived in this grand, old Victorian house in the middle of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and some of the best memories of my childhood took place there. However, there was one thing I didn’t love, and that was the mandatory Sunday afternoon naps because it was Sabbath.
My grandfather was a Baptist evangelist, and he took the Sabbath seriously. The only thing we could do on Sundays was go to church, eat a hearty meal after the morning service, take a nap, then head back to church for the evening service. To an energetic child, that wasn’t very fun.
Then one Sunday afternoon, as I was resting in one of the guest room beds, probably counting the boards on the old, wooden floor, my uncle peaked his head around the door. “Come with me,” he whispered, motioning with his hand.
My mom came from a family of ten, and this was one of her younger brothers. He was the fun uncle who rarely followed the rules, so I hopped out of bed without hesitation and followed him through the door. Placing his finger to his lips for silence, he led me tip-toeing down the creaky stairs, through the spacious living room, and out the back door. It was frightening yet exhilarating, knowing that at any moment, we could be caught.
That afternoon, we did anything but Sabbath, at least the way we had been taught. Driving to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel where a friend of his worked, my uncle and I swam in the pool for hours and had the time of our lives. It’s a memory that will stay with me forever. I don’t quite remember what happened when we returned to the house or if we were able to slip back in unnoticed. I choose to believe we did! Regardless of any consequences there may have been, it was the best Sabbath I’d ever had.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” - Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
I don’t know if anyone still practices the Sabbath quite like the generation of my grandparents, but the principle of the Sabbath still holds true. The Bible clearly states that at the end of Creation, God rested on the seventh day, and He wants us to make time for rest too. Although I may be older now, I still find myself struggling to sit still and rest my body and mind much like I did as a child. When we neglect our rest, we risk burnout, so it’s important we set aside this time.
Rest comes in various forms, and everyone’s needs are different. What recharges me, you may find completely draining. Sometimes we need a nap, and sometimes we need a swim! Sometimes we simply need time with our family. Whatever gives us life is the kind of Sabbath we need to keep. The point of the Sabbath is to set aside our work for a day to rest, delight, and worship. So while I understand why my grandparents wanted us to nap, I also understand why my uncle wanted to play. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that we shouldn’t have disobeyed.
JOURNAL: Do you practice Sabbath? Do you set aside a day to rest, refresh, and start again anew? What are some things you do on your Sabbath? What are some things you can do to protect your Sabbath?
ACTIVATION: Choose a day this week to practice Sabbath and make sure you stick to it even if it’s hard. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you.
PRAYER: God, help me set aside time to rest, refresh, and recharge. Lead me in knowing what things will help me in this endeavor. Protect this time from outside distractions and my own weakness. I dedicate this time to You. Amen
My grandfather was a Baptist evangelist, and he took the Sabbath seriously. The only thing we could do on Sundays was go to church, eat a hearty meal after the morning service, take a nap, then head back to church for the evening service. To an energetic child, that wasn’t very fun.
Then one Sunday afternoon, as I was resting in one of the guest room beds, probably counting the boards on the old, wooden floor, my uncle peaked his head around the door. “Come with me,” he whispered, motioning with his hand.
My mom came from a family of ten, and this was one of her younger brothers. He was the fun uncle who rarely followed the rules, so I hopped out of bed without hesitation and followed him through the door. Placing his finger to his lips for silence, he led me tip-toeing down the creaky stairs, through the spacious living room, and out the back door. It was frightening yet exhilarating, knowing that at any moment, we could be caught.
That afternoon, we did anything but Sabbath, at least the way we had been taught. Driving to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel where a friend of his worked, my uncle and I swam in the pool for hours and had the time of our lives. It’s a memory that will stay with me forever. I don’t quite remember what happened when we returned to the house or if we were able to slip back in unnoticed. I choose to believe we did! Regardless of any consequences there may have been, it was the best Sabbath I’d ever had.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” - Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
I don’t know if anyone still practices the Sabbath quite like the generation of my grandparents, but the principle of the Sabbath still holds true. The Bible clearly states that at the end of Creation, God rested on the seventh day, and He wants us to make time for rest too. Although I may be older now, I still find myself struggling to sit still and rest my body and mind much like I did as a child. When we neglect our rest, we risk burnout, so it’s important we set aside this time.
Rest comes in various forms, and everyone’s needs are different. What recharges me, you may find completely draining. Sometimes we need a nap, and sometimes we need a swim! Sometimes we simply need time with our family. Whatever gives us life is the kind of Sabbath we need to keep. The point of the Sabbath is to set aside our work for a day to rest, delight, and worship. So while I understand why my grandparents wanted us to nap, I also understand why my uncle wanted to play. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that we shouldn’t have disobeyed.
JOURNAL: Do you practice Sabbath? Do you set aside a day to rest, refresh, and start again anew? What are some things you do on your Sabbath? What are some things you can do to protect your Sabbath?
ACTIVATION: Choose a day this week to practice Sabbath and make sure you stick to it even if it’s hard. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you.
PRAYER: God, help me set aside time to rest, refresh, and recharge. Lead me in knowing what things will help me in this endeavor. Protect this time from outside distractions and my own weakness. I dedicate this time to You. Amen
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