I glanced over this article today.
Since I don’t have children or nearby relatives, suggestions for things people can do together as a family grab my attention less than other things might. But after walking away, I found myself thinking about things I liked about it–simple things to notice that will help us keep the Sabbath day holy.
Jeffrey Hill says, the Sabbath should look different, sound different, feel different, and even taste different. He neglected to mention “smell different” which my Sabbath always does when I go to church–perfumes abound. But laying that aside, I like the idea of the Sabbath being different in these simple, easy to remember ways.
I might also add, the Sabbath should think different, if you get my meaning. It can have a different attitude. Though I carry on many of my humanitarian works on Sundays, there are little rules I’ve set for myself. For example, I don’t operate machinery–spinning wheel, sewing machine, iron. I don’t go into mass production–laying out a lot of fabric or tracing and cutting out patterns. If I use scissors, I use them to trim threads, not cut out bear shapes.
Long ago I learned a song in Primary, “Saturday is a special day, it’s the day we get ready for Sunday.” That’s been a lifelong lesson for me.
It should watch different, listen different. It should do different. Ideas about writing books–note them, but don’t start working on your book. The Sabbath shouldn’t further your career. It shouldn’t be a day to carry out tasks for convenience sake, i.e. business in the church hallways. Clean up the dance room. Watch that Jerome Robbins video I’ve been wanting to rewatch.
This little suggestions can lead to greater Sabbath observance. Be mindful, be present, listen within; be guided by the Spirit. That’s how to make the Sabbath day different.
And when the day draws to a close, we can start working on this:
