Western religious traditions maintain the practice of keeping the Sabbath—a weekly day of rest devoid of work and commerce and centered on reflection, prayer, and family.
In striving to achieve, hustle, get ahead, and simply keep up with the demands of life, such a tradition may easily fall by the wayside for many modern families. There is wisdom in this practice, however—in stepping away from the day-to-day grind, in resting one’s mind, heart, and spirit, in focusing time and attention on those we hold dear, in the act of personal introspection and spiritual development, and in manifesting one’s ability to discipline oneself consistently, on a weekly basis. In this day and age, might the observance of such a Sabbath day be a refining and worthwhile custom?
Collaborate
Gather together as a family to discuss and come to an understanding about the importance of incorporating a day of rest into your life each week. Decide which day it will be and consider the ways in which you’ll celebrate it.Unplug
Make your Sabbath day a screen-free one. There is no rest in the onslaught of information flooding the digital world. Institute a family policy that there will be no phones, no computers, no tablets, no video games, and no television on your special day each week. This decision alone would be a transformative one for any family (the vast majority) that regularly uses any of these devices.Connect to the Divine
Spend some time engaged in spiritual practice with your family. Whether that means attending a religious service, going for a walk in nature, praying, meditating, or studying scriptures, do what is most meaningful to your family.Refrain From Buying and Selling
The traditional Sabbath includes refraining from commerce. When we consider how much mental, emotional, and physical energy we devote to the activities of buying and selling, we can see the value in refraining from those for one day each week. Such activities, though essential for the practical needs of everyday life, can easily distract us from the deeper, more important things that deserve our energies.Break Bread
A busy schedule precludes many families from sitting down to a home-cooked meal together each night. A day of rest is the perfect time to ensure this happens at least once a week. Sharing a home-cooked meal together, allowing everyone to contribute to its preparation and cleanup, and conversing and connecting along the way is a simple and wonderful way to strengthen bonds and keep what’s important at the forefront.Stay Present
Do your best to refrain from focusing on your worries or future plans, your to-do list, or your obligations during your Sabbath day. Instead, foster a heart of gratitude for the many blessings you’ve been afforded in your life and try to keep your focus on the present moment while you enjoy this precious time with your family.While you may be concerned that a day of rest would negatively affect your ability to tackle all of your responsibilities, you might just find that allowing yourself a weekly chance to reset and refresh your mind and spirit allows you to perform even more effectively in all the roles you’ve taken on in life. Such a practice is the kind that compounds over time, so give it a chance and see if your day of rest doesn’t become one of the best parts of each week.
