It’s 11:27pm. I’m sitting here sipping tea, thinking about the week behind me and the one ahead. The house is peaceful. I can hear Pete upstairs talking to someone online, while the rest of the family is already asleep. Well, Momo the sugarglider is running laps on her wheel. She’s the most energetic of us all at this time of night. She’s got me thinking about the Sundays of the past when I was doing the same thing.
I grew up in a Christian faith that teaches that Sundays are a day of rest. Ha! After being in some form of church leadership for over two decades before my departure, I’m here to tell you I think that’s bullshit. Sundays were NEVER relaxing for me, especially after having children. I spent years spinning too many plates, and wearing too many hats, and I convinced myself that it was all good. I was fine. I didn’t know how to rest, and when I tried, I felt guilty because there were so many things to do, and I am a do-er. I’m an over-do-er.
Sundays were for church all morning and sometimes into the afternoon, then coming home and doing ALL the things – laundry, prepping for the school week – homeschooling for three different grade levels, and my Friday classes at the private school where I taught, housework, meal prep, etc. I just kept moving. I was living by Newton’s 1st law of motion. 😉
For over 30 years, yes – even before kids, Sundays were my most exhausting day of the week. Not everything about them was bad, I mostly enjoyed what I was doing at the time, but I’m a little sad about it now. I want to give that Niki a hug and tell her it’s okay to sit down and rest, guilt free. And in case you’re wondering, Saturdays were often the same kind of crazy that just bled over into Sundays. The really hard Sundays bled over into Mondays. The weekends were for getting the things done we didn’t complete during the week, and stressing over all of the things we needed to do in the coming week. I was an expert at running on that wheel.
In contrast, I’m finally resting on Sundays, and it’s wonderful! I wake up when I want to, get dressed (or not) and meander down the stairs for tea and food. Sometimes Benny and I have brunch together. Since he’s usually up by 4 am, he’s often eating lunch while I’m eating a late breakfast, but it’s still together. We actually connect on Sundays now. It is no longer a day of checking tasks off a list, or filling it with prep for the week. I’ve intentionally made it a unhurried day for myself. We occasionally slip a few tasks in, and that’s okay, but my catch-all Sundays are a thing of the past!
Some Sundays I stay in pajamas all day and read, or play in my planner, or work on a creative project, or watch movies with Benny. Some Sundays I meet up with a friend for a coffee/chai date, or go to a movie by myself or with one of my kids, or attend live theatre. This afternoon I went to see Hamlet with Zoe and my friend Mary at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. It was excellent! My biggest stress of the day was the traffic on I-25 because there was a Rockies game AND a Broncos game. Fun times.
Tonight I enjoyed an hour-long phone chat with a long distance friend, and started one of two online art classes I’ll be taking over the next few weeks. Benny went to bed early. Zoe was in the kitchen making simple syrup from the lavendar she picked a few days ago. Pete was gaming online with friends. Max was out of town for the weekend, so he was hanging out with his dog and catching up with the family. We’ve all created a new rhythm for our Sundays – one of rest. Finally.
I’ll leave the wheel-running to Momo.
