Sabbath Is For Family
Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2023 Blog #33
August 14, 2023
Vacation Blogs 2 of 5
Sabbath Is For Family
This is my second week of my Sabbath month and it is magnificent. I have put aside my work and am enjoying life in my cabin by the lake. Last week I wrote, and podcasted about taking time for God. This week I want to talk about taking time for family. My sabbath is about family also.
It has been fun to entertain my oldest Grandson this past week. We have enjoyed spending time together, going on trips, and doing bonding activities of many varieties. But my family time has been more than that. Last night I spent the evening with all three of my grandsons, their parents, and even my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Needless to say, my small cabin was very crowded.
My kitchen table holds six people but there were twelve people gathered around the table for dinner. We brought in a second table and chairs from the backyard. The small cabin was bursting with people and the noise that comes from three young children. There was not a moment when things were quiet. Other people might view this as a problem or at least a nuisance. Not me. I view the noise and chaos as a blessing.
I want my grandchildren to be loud when they are enjoying themselves. I want the whole family to be crowded into a small place. What is the alternatives to these activities? Not having the family gathered in one place! Not having children enjoying life being kids and instead feeling uncomfortable during family gatherings! Would anyone wish that?
In our society, we find ourselves busy with work and activities, often at the expense of our relationships and families. Sabbath is a time to affirm and re-kindle these familial relationships. Such relationships require time spent with one another and there is no substitute for time. We are the people that we are because people older than ourselves formed relationships with us, taught us and mentored us. Now it is our turn to foster relationships with those family members younger than us.
Yes, it was work to set up our dinner. Yes, there was a lot of cleanup to do following the meal. Yes, the noise could be annoying at times. But we gave the family, especially the children, memories that will last for lifetimes. If good relations are formed within families, all the work and inconvenience is more than worth it.
Sabbath is for families do we neglect our families or take time to nurture relationships with family members. What a blessing it was to feed the crazy, noisy family members.
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