Reclaiming the Sabbath step 1: Work and Play day Saturday

Over the last few months I have been trying to buckle down and reclaim Sunday as a day of rest, reflection, and worship; all day not jut an hour or two in the morning. The biggest obstacle was having been so busy during the week that all the household chores seemed to pile up and I would spend most of Sunday getting things done and focusing on getting ready for Monday. That is not how i wish to spend my one day of rest a week; nor is it a way to honor God who gave me one day to rest and recharge for the week. the problem remained, what could I do, I am a busy mom even on days when we don't go anywhere; I always have someone needing something and four other someones getting in to something how am I supposed to get anything done?

In January I instituted Play and Work day Saturday. As soon as breakfast is finished on Saturday morning we all sit down and make three lists together, a list of kids jobs, a list of adult jobs, and a list of playtime ideas. I cut the list to separate the jobs and put each list into it's own bowl; then we each draw a job from the appropriate bowl. I put on some upbeat music and we start our tasks. The rule is once you finish your job you help someone else, when that task is complete you help someone else and so on and so forth until every ones task has been completed. This is where it gets fun!!! We keep score on the giant dry-erase board in the kitchen; 1 point for completing your own task, and 2 points for any job you help complete. After three draws the one with the most points gets to chose out of the playtime bowl and we take 30 minutes to play together as a family, then we start all over.

Typically we will work all day and there will still be a few little things left on the adult list but the house is nearly clean and I am ready to focus on what the Sabbath is really about. As an added bonus we are spending an entire day together as a family accomplishing a common goal; the kids are learning the importance of teamwork and helping each other which is already starting to strengthen their sibling bonds. Occasionally we will have a day this does not work out perfectly, they fight, or refuse to do their tasks; it is however over all a really great strategy for getting the family together, and getting the job done