Have you noticed that life seems to be speeding by?
Some of that, I personally think, is attributed to the fact that as we get older, we see how little time we actually have at our disposal. But some of it, I think, can be easily tied to how busy we are… or make ourselves.
For those moms who are employed, regardless of being work-from-home moms or work-outside-the-home moms, after our work schedules are solidified, we also schedule in church and school activities. Then we manage to squeeze in the karate lessons, theatre classes and practices, dance classes, ball games, piano lessons, and any other activity we can think of.
When we fall into bed in the evening, we can’t figure out why we are so tired!
Our bodies are not designed to constantly be running.
God even designated the Sabbath, not for the sake of the Sabbath, but for our sake (Mark 2:27). He knew that we needed one day in our week where we could slow down and give our bodies the rest they need… and we have even managed to fill that day up with a bustle of activity, too!
What is the purpose of having a day of rest? Have you considered that maybe, just maybe, our Creator, the God of the Universe, set aside a day for us out of His great love for us, to allow us to rest? Maybe, just maybe, He set aside that day to get a set time for us to gather at our home base to fellowship with the ones he has entrusted to us. Or maybe, just maybe, He implemented a day so He could have our attention and focus for one day before we face the next week of errands, schedules and demands of our time.
Exodus 33:14, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
When we use our Sabbath to spend time with Him, we know that no matter what we face in the week ahead, He will go with us, and we will have a sense of peace and not frantic.
Matthew 11:28-29, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
When we use our Sabbath to spend time with our Heavenly Father, He will show us the burdens we have placed on ourselves and the tasks he has assigned to us. He gives us the freedom to remove outside burdens which in turn gives us the rest to find our purpose in Him.
Yes to Peace, No to Frantic
Plan white space in your calendar- Have you ever looked at your calendar or planner and seen an empty box, meaning a day with no appointments, plans, meetings, kids’ activities, or church events? Is your first instinct to see what you can fill that day with? Do you try to find something, anything to put in that box so you will feel like you are “living life”? I’m definitely guilty of that…
Intentionally plan days that are not to be filled. Leave “white space” in your calendar. Protect those spaces of time so you and your family can experience peace rather than frantic moments. Let your children feel what peace is like when there is nowhere to go and no one to see. Remember, our children are watching us. Do we want to pass on “frantic” or “peace”?
A cousin of mine intentionally only scheduled one appointment or activity per day for her family with the purpose of keeping peace in her schedule. Although a choice like that may not be feasible for everyone, how can you intentionally make your schedule less chaotic like she did?
As we pull out our calendars and planners and prepare for the weeks and months ahead, let’s put these organizational tools before the Lord and ask for His guidance as we plan our days. Romans 8:6 reminds us that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Inviting Him into our planning can only bring us peace and the freedom to say no to frantic.
