Living Life By Design - This is a gift...not torture!

Living Life By Design

Sunday, March 25, 2007

This is a gift...not torture!

Our church is reading through the bible in a year. I'm doing my best to keep up. I'm not beating myself up about the days I miss (Romans8:1)...I'm just celebrating the days I hit.

For a while there, in the early books of the old testament, we spent a lot of time reading about the the Sabbath. No, this isn't going to be a blog about Sabbath-keepers. That's an issue I'll leave to others.

Instead, I was amazed at how many times (don't recall exactly how many) that God mentions that the Sabbath is a gift to us. "The Sabbath is a gift from the Lord."

This hit me SO hard as it was paraphrased several times within two weeks of reading that I began to seriously evaluate how I spend my Sundays. And I realize that I treated them like "catch-up" days.

But I never caught up.

I'd just enter the next week more frustrated and more irritable that I couldn't get my work done and my ever-elusive "fun stuff" like cross-stitching and scrapbooking was even more elusive.

For the last month I've made a more considerable effort to not touch dishes or laundry or any housekeeping task that I consider "work" (i.e., I'd pay someone else to do) on Sunday. Do you know how HARD that is? Geez, Louise!!

One of the neighborhood children asked me today why I made a comment about avoiding my house. I told her that I was afraid to go back in because I could hear the voices of the work calling me. I can HEAR the laundry saying, "Just iron one shirt...you'll be so much further ahead tomorrow," or the desk saying, "Just organize the piles a little...it'll be easier to sort tomorrow." It was so loud, I had to go sit on the driveway. TORTURE! I was driven from my house by the work that I was supposed to be resting from. Hmmph!

But then, the boys challenged me to a bike race. So I raced (and won...moms rule!). And I played with S on his upgraded wheels...training wheels, that is. I caught up with my neighbors who I haven't really chatted with in a while. I took in the fresh air. I giggled. I laughed heartily. I played with a Rubik's cube.

That work thought it had the best of me by driving me from the house...but it drove me to play. It drove me to experience the abundant life that I have.

So I see now that the Sabbath is a gift from the Lord. It's the day I get to dwell on all the gifts that I often take for granted during the week. And something tells me that this week I'll be a titch more thankful for the work and the blessings!

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Comments

Monday, March 26, 2007 - I'm so glad to read your blog

Posted by SingingANewSong

Thank you for your comment on my blog--I'm so glad to have found you! First, I too struggle with the Sabbath issue. For a long time, I wouldn't do anything on Sunday that I would do on any other day, unless it was a hobby type thing. However, I've fallen back into the catch up on Sunday trap! Also, I too am a Suave Suzuki Sister! However, my son quit after 2 months. He's my child that's harder to pin down into one thing, especially if that one thing is as labor intensive as violin. So, we quit. But I too did not realize the extent of my involvement--in fact, I got myself a violin too! Now they're sitting in the corner, with my daughter's lonely cello and my autoharp that needs tuning and my pink guitar I can't play yet. But they're next to the piano that does get played! Oh well! Also, I see you're in Minnesota--I LOVE Minnesota! So I'm glad to have met you! Love your blog!

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Monday, March 26, 2007 - HI

Posted by bethanyrae

My husband always says how badly he needs his day of rest.
He needs a day where he can just mentally shut down and not have to think. Just do what he feels like doing. But NOT household chores. He won't feel rested after that. Makes Mondays too hard. I think you're right to mention how it's a gift to us.
Thanks for your thoughts on my post. There were several comments made, and I ended up making one of my own to tie them all together. It was really helpful.
Thanks,
bethanyrae

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - love your blog

Posted by Mrs. Taunya

I love your blog! I will visit often.

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Friday, March 30, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MrsTracy

Sundays.....
Long ago I made a routine for Sundays. Because I had been keeping children throughout the week I HAD to have Sunday for download day. What I do is cook Sunday meals on Saturday morning, I get our Sunday best out Saturday morning also. The house is cleaned and then its just a matter of picking up along the way. Sunday evening before bed is when I have the kids do a quick through so the house is kid ready Monday. It has made my life SO much easier! After church we RELAX!

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Saturday, March 31, 2007 - Hi from a new friend

Posted by bbullard

Our church started reading the Bible in a year, too, and my study lasted about a week. I am a slow reader (part of my Myers-Briggs type), so 2-3 chapters in a day is hard for me. I stuck to reading the shorter passages with the kids during school, and I find that the shorter passages deepen my understanding. Like you, I don't condemn myself (although the temptation was there), but I celebrate that I am reading.

What an insightful post on Proverbs 31:16! Our church went through the Purpose Driven Life last summer, which truly taught me a lesson about taking on too much, but I'd not reflected on this passage in that way. You've given me much to think about and I obviously need to blow the dust off of some old lessons.

Thanks for finding my blog and in so doing, leading me to yours. God bless.

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About Me

God designed our lives through to the end from the very beginning. All we need to do is choose to live according to that design. My being home is God's best for my family! And ooh -- what an adventure! ...and that's what this blog is about: living and learning and laughing with our family.