Respect...Rest

I posted a couple articles over on the page titled, "Articles from the Coordinator."

The first is about respect. I think we moms don't always expect the best from our children (or settle for less than we should) and often times it's in the area of showing proper respect. I'll give you an example of what I mean by that.

A few months ago, we were discussing parenting in a Sunday school class and one of the guest speakers mentioned that rolling of the eyes was not allowed in her household. I remember thinking, "You mean I can tell my kids they shouldn't do that?! Wow! I thought that was just something I was going to have to deal with!" I never liked it, but I never really thought about why. When I did, I realized that it really is disrespectful!

Read the article. Think about how well your family does at showing respect to each other and to others.

The second article is one family's effort to find ways to honor God by making Sunday a "day of rest." I'm preparing a lesson on priorities and leaving "white space" in our schedules and this article resonated with me. Observing a day of rest within my family would probably increase my sense of peace and calm. It would certainly increase the amount of time I spend engaged with my husband and children.

For some reason, we are quick to toss this command out the window in today's Christian society. And I'm just as guilty as anyone. So, I'll leave you with a passage from Exodus and encourage you to take the time to read the article and really consider how you can honor God with your Sabbath.

"For six days, work is to be done, but the eventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested." Exodus 31:15-17