I’ve written about my religious beliefs before, but I wanted to write a post specifically on my love for Sundays, regardless of being a Christian and attending church every week. Every Sunday we head to church dressed in our best(ish) clothes for 10am. Jared has meetings most weeks from 8am, and then we don’t get back until around 2:30pm. We spend the afternoon at home by ourselves, with friends and family, or visiting other family members, and then Jared is often visiting people in the evening.
It can be quite a busy day, but I love it because the focus of the day is so different to the other six. Cleaning is ignored, work is ignored, DIY is ignored and day-to-day activities are ignored – we try very hard to focus on others (and each other). I think that is why I love Sundays so much – there is no pressure to get anything done. I need a Sunday every week. I don’t think I could cope with two Saturdays every weekend, although I’m sure our house and garden would look much better for it.
As well as the above; I don’t watch TV on a Sunday, I don’t spend money on a Sunday, I don’t listen to popular music on a Sunday, do internet shopping and I wouldn’t watch a film. As a youngster I used to get frustrated with not being allowed to do certain things on a Sunday, but now it has become a little haven of a day where I feel cocooned – one day a week to regroup and reconnect, with myself, family and friends.
When I was a child, shops weren’t open on Sundays, 24 hour supermarkets didn’t exist and people didn’t own Smart phones or tablets, which is why it is more important than ever to learn how to switch off – that includes children too. The primary reason I limit what I do on a Sunday is for religious reasons (to keep the Sabbath day holy), but the secondary reason is because I need a day with limited distractions. It’s a day I have only truly appreciated since having children.
As a teenager I used to moan so much about what I couldn’t do on Sundays, and my mum would always remind me that the opposite was true – there is so much we can do on a Sunday. In true ‘I-think-I-am-becoming-my-mother-esque’ style, I asked Win to help me write a list of things he likes doing on Sundays, and this is what he came up with:
- learning
- listening
- playing games
- seeing family
- playing games
- going on a walk
- eating sweets at church
- listening to nice music
- singing nice songs
- wearing nice clothes
- calling family
- cuddling together
- not snatching
- Facetimeing
- reading the Bible
- writing things down
- playing with capes
I’m sure he won’t feel so thrilled when he is a teen!
Rather cooly; my church uses the hashtag #HisDay to share simple things that make Sundays joyful and inspiring.
Do you have a day a week that you like to focus on something different? What are your techniques for ‘switching off’? and do you think it makes a difference to your week?
E xx
I adore sundays! The routine of going to church and then spending a cozy day at home!
Agreed completely! x
Hi Esther,
I enjoyed reading this article. You wrote about what are the other benefits of going to Church, plus the joys it brings to your family. A very enjoyable article.
John M.
Thank you John! x
I agree with you and do more or less the same types of activities you do on the 7th day of the week instead of the 1st, because God created the earth in 6 days and rested the 7th. I have always appreciated it, but agree that it became even more precious when I had children at home. We don’t need the government to set aside a special day…God can do it with us and we with Him!