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Keeping Sunday Sacred
The Sabbath day was given to us as a gift; sometimes, though, convincing your children that this day is a blessing and not a punishment is easier said than done. How do we make Sunday a holy day instead of a holiday and help our children see its value?
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"Did you feel refreshed at the end of your Sunday, or was it just like any other day?"
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While the potential obstacles to achieving a peaceful Sabbath are many, so are the potential blessings in doing what we can to make it a more sacred time. By starting with just a few simple changes, your family can begin to see Sundays not for their restrictions, but for their opportunities.
“Saturday is a Special Day”
The idea to plan for Sunday is certainly not a new one, but, unfortunately, we often forget this important step to having a peaceful Sabbath. Review in your mind what your last Sunday was like. Were you rushed getting to church? Did you have time to review your lesson like you told yourself you would? What did you make for dinner and how much time did you spend in the kitchen? Did you feel at all refreshed at the end of the day, or was it just like any other day?
Take some time to think about what you could do ahead of time (on Saturday) to make your Sundays more conducive to the Spirit. Choosing and laying out Sunday clothes for your children; doing the necessary laundry, grocery shopping, and meal preparation; and putting gas in the car are just a few of the Saturday activities that will help make Sundays a little easier. It does, though, require a little forethought.
For example, decide in advance what you will be having for dinner on Sunday (and choose something that is simple to prepare) then do as much preparation as you can (cutting vegetables, thawing meats, etc.) on Saturday. Your kids will take note of how you prepare on Saturday and will quickly realize from your example that Sundays really are important and worth a little extra consideration.
Fighting the “I’m Bored!” Syndrome
For most adults, one of the best parts of Sunday is getting a little break from all the sensory overload we’re bombarded with on a daily basis. On Sundays we don’t have to answer work emails, flip through hundreds of channels to find the program we want to watch, or hear the honks of afternoon traffic. For kids, though, understanding that there’s a time to have fun and be rambunctious and then there’s a time to slow down the pace and be more reflective can be difficult, especially when they’re used to having so much entertainment at their disposal, most of which is just a click away.
Key to helping kids learn to enjoy this “down” time is to concentrate more on all that they can do on Sundays instead of what they can’t do. There are many activities that will keep your children occupied, while also helping them retain the spirit Sundays are intended to have. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Journal writing is a perfect Sunday activity. For some kids, though, getting started can be the toughest part. You can help them out by providing them with topics or questions that will spark their interests.
>> View the Complete Article Here
By Ryan Williamson LDSLiving Magazine Jan/Feb Issue
>> Click Here for Information about LDS Living Magazine
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