The “Wasted” Day

I spent my whole life baffled by the whole concept that Sunday was to be the day of rest. We would hear this in the list of do’s and don’ts, but it was rarely observed.  If you are a GOOD christian, you are fulfilling the LONG list of things a good christian whould be doing, which doesn’t give much time for rest.

When I became an adult, and my husband and I were quite involved in nearly every church we were in, I usually braced myself for Sunday.  Sunday usually consisted of getting up early and attempting to make it to church on time with kids in tow.  Depending on the current Pot Luck schedule, I would have to get up earlier to make whatever it was that I was to make for whatever it was that we had planned.  On days without potlucks, it might be a meal for whatever family was coming over after church.

If we made it to church in enough time to get everyone to where they belonged, practice whatever music we were scheduled to participate in, and actually sit in Sunday School, we would breathe a quick sigh of relief.  Sometimes we would teach Sunday school, Children’s church, Youth group, or something else during the services.

Home.

Lunch.

Busy, busy, busy.

Depending on our current church, we might have to be back as early as 4:00 for choir, discipleship training, special music practice, children’s choir, etc.  Then service might be followed by a youth group activity or family fellowship.

We would return home ready to collapse, but goodness, we had our “DAY OF REST.”

It seemed that no matter where our location the situation was the same, hectic schedule and exhausted people.

A few years ago when God gave us Living Stones as a ministry, Sundays were a little different.  At first, services were all held in our home, so the preparation for Sundays were FAR from peaceful and restful.  Once service was held and the house cleared  we were able to rest.  It was a new concept for me.  Rest?  On a Sunday?  Shouldn’t we be out doing SOMETHING?

We have to be DOING something!

A year later our services moved from our home and to Saturday evenings because we meet in a building that is a church. They need it on Sundays for obvious reasons.  I began to see Sunday as my day of rest.

At first, I just didn’t even know what to do with myself.  I felt like it couldn’t be right to not hit the ground running, and not stop until I collapsed sometime during the evening.  Then, I began to rest.

Now, I admit, many times I see Sunday as a day to accomplish a lot.  Yes, it is at times. But, I can’t tell you how wonderful a day to actually rest is!

We have had additional Sunday services for a few months, but I have tried to reserve time for REST.

What a concept.  REST!

Yesterday, we had no where to be and no schedule to keep. At first, I was planning on all the things that I could accomplish.  As the list was running frantically through my head, the kids started bounding into our room, one by one.  As our bed filled, and the cuddles wore on, I was reminded what a gift the day was.

We “wasted” our day together. We ate a big breakfast. We laid in bed and watched TV together (I took a nap in the midst of the chaos too).  JP mowed a lawn (which might have been the only tangible “work” that was accomplished), and we went to a movie.  We came home, and we did a little more of the same.

Last night, as we were sitting around watching the new “Call of the Wildman” (Don’t ask me why)  I had a contended little person snuggling with me, and she said, “This was the best day.”

I love to waste days together.

Published by

Tancy Griffin

Tancy Griffin is a wife and mother of nine wonderful children. Her husband Jeremiah Griffin is a church planter and pastor in Rockford, Illinois.

One thought on “The “Wasted” Day”

  1. we are in the same place, sister… when Christians dread Sundays because it is the busiest and most stressful day of the week, God is not honored nor pleased, and surely not glorified. Thank you for your transparency.

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