Sabbath & Play: Rest as Resistance

Somewhere along the way, we started treating rest like a reward for getting everything else done. Like something we can only enjoy once the to-do list is cleared, the kitchen is clean, and the inbox is at zero.

But what if rest isn’t the reward?

What if it’s the starting point?

Ordinary Time invites us into a different rhythm, a slower one. It’s not a countdown to anything. It’s not a season of urgency. It’s the long green stretch where we remember that God is already here. That the work is not all up to us. That rest is part of the story.

Sabbath isn’t a break from real life. It’s the reminder of what real life is.

When we make space for rest and delight in our homes, we’re not being indulgent. We’re practicing faith. We’re resisting a world that tells us our worth is measured by how much we can produce. And we’re showing our children that joy and restoration are holy things.

What Sabbath Can Look Like at Home

It doesn’t need to be a whole day (though that’s a beautiful goal). It doesn’t need to be perfect or silent or free of chaos. It just needs to be intentional.

A Sabbath Candle

Light a special candle to mark the start of rest, even just for Sunday dinner. Let it be a visible sign to your family: the pace is changing now.

Put Away the Work

Tidy what you need to, then stop. Let the undone things stay undone. This is hard, I know. But it's also healing. You are not held together by your productivity. You are held together by grace.

Feast a Little

Even something simple, a favorite breakfast, a picnic in the backyard, a bakery treat after church, can mark the day with joy. Sabbath reminds us that delight is not extra. It’s essential.

Play Together

Yes, play is sacred too. Go outside. Build a pillow fort. Say yes to board games. Get out the paints. Let your kids see your smile stretch wide and your shoulders drop. There’s no greater witness to God’s goodness than a parent at peace.

Rest Differently

Sabbath isn’t just collapsing on the couch (though there’s space for that!). It’s about what restores you. Read a novel. Take a walk. Listen to music that lifts your spirit. Let your soul exhale.

Why It Matters

Our children are growing up in a world that is always "on." Noise, speed, and striving are the norm. But we can give them something different.

When we choose to rest, truly rest, we’re planting a seed that says, You don’t have to earn your belovedness. You already have it.

And that truth?

That’s the gospel.

That’s the green, growing thing that Ordinary Time is all about.

This week, consider how your family might begin practicing Sabbath, even in small, doable ways. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Just begin.

Because Sabbath is not a luxury.

It’s resistance.

And it’s one of the holiest gifts we can give.

Click HERE for my free “Sabbath Starters” guide with gentle ideas to help you mark the day.