Like most Americans, my family is schedule and clock-driven. We have a giant whiteboard calendar on prominent display. Everything is color-coordinated and planned to the half hour. We definitely get a lot done, but if we are not careful, we don’t get a lot of time for rest and just plain fun.
Recently, we decided to take a day off and head to the pumpkin patch. The fall weather has been unseasonably warm and it was a great day to indulge in some apple cider slushies. There was no agenda, just meandering from one thing to the next with plenty of downtime in between. We took pictures, recreated some old photos, and created new memories.
As we were getting into the car to head home, my daughter commented, “That was a valuable waste of a day!” The comment struck me as so wise. Sometimes there is great value in not getting anything done. Taking time to stop and smell the roses, or pick a couple sunflowers, can be just as valuable as a day of work.
Of course, God has known this all along. One of the very first things He did for us was to model how to take a day of rest. He created the sabbath rest for us, I wonder why it is so difficult for some of us to receive this gift? I know for myself it has been a struggle my whole life to stop for a day. The rewards are so great whenever I do. Somehow, everything still gets done on time and the world keeps turning!
If this is something you struggle with as well, I would encourage you to try it. Take a day off, play with your family or spend some time with God. Tweaking my daughter’s comment a little, you just might find that it was a valuable use of a day.
Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27
Love your last thought on the Sabboth being made for people. Good reminder that God knows our needs so much better than we do!