Sundays are for Resting

Do you take Sundays off, or are they just another day for you?

Growing up Amish, Sundays were my favorite day. A typical summer Sunday morning would mean waking up early and slipping into our dresses that we'd ironed and hung out the day before, and eating a cold breakfast, then out the door, probably barefoot, and into the buggy to head to church. Church was held in church members houses, so if that house was close enough, we would walk. Community was so important within the Amish, that every Sunday, all 20 to 30 families at church would eat together, but since the food was prepared on Saturday, there was very little work to get lunch on the tables. Lunch was a cold meal, egg salad sandwiches, peanut butter, jam, pickles, beets, cheese and ham.

Then Sunday afternoon naps at home, is there anything better? We never ate an actual dinner on Sunday evenings, just popcorn, cold salad, cookies etc. Dishes could wait until Monday morning.

We still find the blessing of Sunday to be such a relief to our family. Living on a farm, taking a day off takes preparation and intention.

Saturdays are quite busy with preparation for us, because we know the benefit of taking a day to rest. For us that might mean giving the sheep a larger paddock to graze on Sunday, so we don't need to move their fences. It means setting out feed for the animals and filling water tanks completely full, so chores are as minimal as possible. It means pulling weeds and picking produce on Saturday, cleaning bathrooms and kitchen and picking up the house through the week so were not tempted to do that on Sunday. It means setting out Church clothes for a relaxed Sunday morning, and meal prepping lunch for after church.

Intentionally creating a clean, peaceful home and farm for Sunday is creating an easy rest day. Leaving dishes stacked in the sink until Monday, not worrying about the small things that always pile up, begging for our attention. They can wait until Monday.

Our week feels different when we are intentional about resting on Sunday.

When our mind and bodies get a break, we are rejuvenated and ready to take on whatever Monday brings. Remember that God doesn't give us a rest day for His benefit, but for our own. What a good gift He gave us.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Sunday.