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Sabbath is an important topic in Scripture—found in its first chapters, in the Ten Commandments, and throughout the Old and New Testament.

In recent years, a part of me feels I have more of a grasp on what the Sabbath should look like perhaps because my culture has forced it upon me. Since moving to Europe, where almost everything is closed on Sundays, I have been forced to examine what the Sabbath has looked like in my life, and what it can look like. In America, I did a lot of stuff on Sundays. I went to church, cooked lunch, ran errands, did house cleaning, and finished up tasks for the week—everything I felt I couldn’t accomplish over the work week.

Marrying a European and moving to Europe hasn’t allowed such a lifestyle anymore. My husband rests on Sundays. Everyone rests on Sundays. We eat slowly, read lots of books with the kids, play games, have people from church over, but we do not do any school or employment tasks, and we leave the housework as well. Every time I return to the states for a visit I am culture shocked by all that is going on and by all the hurry (in general, but specifically, on Sundays).

Forcing me to acknowledge Sabbath rest has also forced me to relish Sabbath rest. The Sabbath allows me a day to focus on what matters most: Christ, his church, and the people in my life who I care about. It rejuvenates me and refocuses me. It also forces me to have to finish things on Saturday and forces me to wait on things until Monday. Sundays allow me to acknowledge that I don’t have to accomplish everything right away.

Regardless of your opinion about the Sabbath (which in my opinion doesn’t have to fall on a Sunday), enjoy your Sabbath day this week as though it was really there for your rest and rejuvenation.