Is it just me, or is your "Day of Rest" sometimes anything but restful?? Don't get me wrong, I love Sundays; worshipping the Lord and spending time fellowshipping with our church family is a delight. But to be honest, there have been times that I've dreaded the approach of another "day of rest" simply because it can so easily turn from heavenly to hectic! Being a pastor's wife (and the mother of two small children) involves extra duties, to be sure; but I think we all might agree that Sundays can be a bit on the stressful side.
I've found that I and my family are much more apt to enjoy the Lord's Day when I do my part to plan ahead and be organized. Here are a few tips that greatly improve the quality of our Sundays. I can rest SO much easier on Saturday night and wake up refreshed and ready to greet the Day... IF I've done a few simple (but important) things to plan ahead.
1) Bathe/shower and wash hair on Saturday night. Waiting until Sunday morning to do this creates so much extra hassle and takes up more of your time! This is especially true if you have little ones at home, like I do.
2) Lay out clothing on Saturday night. Before I go to bed, I make sure that everyone's church outfit- from dresses to socks and shoes and bows- are laid out and ready. If clothing needs pressed, I iron them. (My husband picks out his own clothing, of course, but I try to be sure that his shirt is pressed, as well.) This saves time on finding shoes or socks at the last minute, or realizing that you forgot to wash something that someone needed to wear. If your kids are picky about their clothes, let them help you pick something out (or, if they're old enough, let them choose their own clothing). Just be sure it's done BEFORE Sunday morning!
3) If you have babies or small children, have their diaper bag already packed. This is another thing I do on Saturday evenings. Make sure you have extra diapers, wipes, toys, snacks, etc., already in the bag. I fill up the girls' sippy cups with juice and put them in the fridge; before we leave for church, I put them in the diaper bag. Make sure children have their Bibles ready, too, and any offering for their Sunday School classes.
4) See to church responsibilities during the week. If you teach a class on Sundays, make sure it's ready to go before you hit the sack on Saturday night!! Any crafts, object lessons, etc., should be ready and waiting when you get up on Sunday morning.
5) Keep breakfast simple. Toast with jelly and a few slices of fruit, or homemade granola cereal with milk is a great Sunday morning breakfast. Skip the hot cereals, and don't put yourself out to make pancakes or biscuits. You'll end up running against the clock, plus have a messy kitchen to clean up- or come home to.
6) Plan ahead for lunch. Many of you already do this, but be sure you have a Sunday dinner menu already prepared. Crock pots are GREAT for Sunday lunches! Chicken, pot roast, pork chops, chili, and many soups and chowders are delicious and easy to make in a crock pot or slow cooker. If you really want to get organized, have the table set for Sunday dinner on Saturday night... what a wonderful feeling to come home knowing that your dinner is ready and waiting! To the contrary, coming home to an empty kitchen with no menu prepared is almost depressing on a Sunday afternoon!! A little planning ahead will save you a lot of trouble.
7) Seek to cultivate a pleasant and joyful atmosphere. This should be done every day of the week, of course! Make sure your children grow up with pleasant memories of going to church. Strife, contention, nagging, and aggravation have no place in a Christian home. Families should walk through the church house door with an attitude of praise and joy already in their hearts. I know this can be a struggle sometimes if you're rushing around trying to get everyone out of the house on time. That's why it's important that we, as mothers, PLAN AHEAD. You can make a huge difference in the atmosphere of your home on Sunday- and every day! You will benefit from the peace of mind, and your family will enjoy the cheerful atmosphere of your home.
How do you keep your Sundays heavenly? I'd love to hear your tips!
I'm just an ordinary girl striving to live a godly, healthy, and natural lifestyle... I'd love to share with you what I'm learning along the way!!