Latest / The Rooted Family / Ep 17 | Why We Couldn't Relax on Sabbath (Until We Started Doing This)
Transcript
- Christian Cornish: Can I ask you something? When was the last time you actually felt at peace? Not just productive, not just caught up, but settled. Because most of us aren't lacking desire for a slower, deeper life, we're just stuck in the busyness that keeps us rushing right past it. Every Friday night, something shifts in our home. The laptops close, the candles are lit, jazz music starts playing, and the kids gather around the table. We say Shabbat Shalom, and for one night, the striving stops. And honestly, this rhythm has become one of the most grounding and sacred parts of our family culture. Yes, and so today we want to share a Sabbath kickoff rhythm. you know, our Sabbath, we've pretty much stuck with Friday nights ⁓ as our kickoff time. ⁓ We've always Friday Saturday. Uh-huh. And the reason we've made that choice ⁓ was had That's why we created the Slow and Savor Society. It's a snail mail club. Yes, it comes straight to your mailbox. It's a simple, tangible way to slow down each month with a piece of art, a cozy recipe, and a letter designed to help you reconnect with what actually ⁓ God, with your family, and with your own soul. if your life has felt full, At least four kids when we started practicing the Sabbath. Maybe it was only three. So yeah, we would have just been having our third. Enough kids we knew very well going to church was A lot work. ⁓ So we to have it ⁓ on a that was not on a Sunday for that reason. So we could just kind of keep churches a in a good way. Like a ⁓ healthy thing didn't feel like a burden. Yeah. And Not because we think we do it perfectly and not because we're expecting you to do it perfectly, because this simple tradition has helped our family intentionally transition from work into rest. But before we get into all that, we want to share a review because we are blessed by everyone who's reviewing and rating this show, So thank you for that. but not meaningful. This is your invitation to begin again. You can learn more or join us at legacyrootsco.com slash Mel Club. And right now, if you use Code Podcast, you'll get 50 % off your first month so you can try it out. Now back to the episode. we wanted to enjoy that fact instead of coming home feeling drained ⁓ So we stick with the traditional Shabbat, which Friday night at sundown to Saturday night at sundown. And traditional you mean the Hebrew people when they were originally ⁓ called by the Lord to ⁓ remember the Sabbath, they and still do, Jewish people today this is from Ahiat60, and it says, you're craving a slower, more Christ-centered rhythm of life, this podcast is for you. Kayla and Christian model it so beautifully. We're only a couple of episodes in, and I'm already encouraged and can't wait for what's to come. ⁓ and Messianic Christians, they do kick their Sabbath, nights and go until sundown on Saturday. Yep. honestly, these reviews, they really do help the podcast so, so much. Like Christian said, it helps the podcast be discovered by more families, And so if this podcast has encouraged you in any way, we'd be so... At the end of the day, the Lord says remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Yeah. And so we don't get too hung up on the day grateful if you took a minute to leave a review. Yes, thank you. I think it's good to explain like why we kick off on Friday night because I do think people wonder what is the right day for Sabbath. And there I think there are actually believers who would definitely say that is a specific day you should do Sabbath. And like said, we don't really fall into that camp of we're gonna be super hard. Core and tell everyone that we have to kick off our Sabbath on Friday night because that's what's always been done it's traditional. ⁓ we're going to get into ⁓ the first point, which is why actually needed a Sabbath kickoff. And it's not just because we're from Bay, Wisconsin, and we love football, and we just need to have a kickoff in every area of our life. ⁓ I protest this. ⁓ I don't know you would say not true. ⁓ OK, ⁓ well, maybe you need to a Mr. Green Bay Packer fanatic. But we ⁓ just didn't know how to transition out of work mode all week when we started Sabbath, like, you know, this new rhythm that we had started, ⁓ it almost like this confusing period of time from normal workday trying finish and wrap up our work on Friday. And then we entered into Sabbath, but it didn't really feel like Sabbath. until like maybe even few hours into it. so I of it this way. We sit down for family dinner every night of the week, six out of nights a week, whatever. so without marking the what makes this particular dinner any different than any other night of the week? ⁓ And I remember you definitely the one who brought this to attention of we should do to mark the moment because to me this feels like any other dinner we do throughout the week. It doesn't feel set apart. ⁓ Like we're into a set apart time. And I thought that was a really beautiful idea that you had. And it really has changed our Sabbath us now we really feel like I some of the stuff that we do to get ready to kick off has really come through trial and error ⁓ of what are the things we've learned. Help us to like we're entering into rest. and you yeah, I'll let you talk to that because this is a little bit more of a rhythm. I'm usually still working on Fridays up until close to dinner time. but I you have a great rhythm around preparing for that kickoff moment. ⁓ Yeah. we enter into it. think for people who, ⁓ think most of us really, it's a struggle to let go of our work and to lay that down. I do think that beneficial for us ⁓ go, go go-getters, to have almost this clear boundary of when is my work done? I think of the, is something that, like you said, we've really taken the time to perfect to help us enter into rest. ⁓ So kids and I, we typically use half at least a half day on Friday before we kick off Sabbath to prep the house, prep the meal. If we're hosting, you know, we're prepping the home so that it's comfortable for our guests. And really just setting the tone Sabbath. I think that's ⁓ the key with prep. the thought of getting ready for vacation. Whenever you have a vacation, you have this very specific day that you're leaving or time that you're leaving or a flight that's taking off and you know that you have so much you have to get done so that you can fully rest Because who wants to take their work on vacation? Yeah, you might do it, but you don't want to do it. Right. Right. So I think that when we have a very clear of okay, this is when Sabbath begins, it kind of puts a fire under our butts to say, all right, we have X amount of time left before the work week is done and rest begins. before the kickoff is how do you want to feel when you enter into Sabbath? Do you want to be crawling across the finish line, so ⁓ beyond because you tried to clean every nook and cranny of the house and you're, ⁓ you just stress out of your mind from work and there was just no ease into the kickoff? Or do you want you know, recruit your family members to work as a team? And now we get to all work together to make the home ⁓ it's like our family needed clarity, together as a unit. so that they knew mom and dad were also present for Sabbath. That's a very good point, that when learned to kick off the moment, ⁓ wasn't ⁓ like and I felt we needed something, but I think you're right, our children needed that too. How would they understand the concept if it ⁓ looked felt just like any other day of the week? It's almost accountability. ready, the meals ready, and we can enter into kickoff with a lot of joy, anticipation, especially if you're hosting, you and I really love to host on our Sabbath evening, during our kickoff, it's really special for us to have guests. ⁓ But it the reality is it does take work ⁓ to prepare home and the meal for guests. ⁓ And so in a way. I feel like boundaries always offer accountability, but Whatever you can do to prepare for kickoff so that you can just let go once the kickoff happens really ideal. ⁓ wanna feel like when you start Sabbath, whatever that it looks like for you, you like you don't have to go back to your computer to check one more thing. Or you don't feel like, ⁓ man, I'm looking around the house and it's just a pig sty So I do think that there's some critical things to think about there. But let's talk about what it looks like to kick off our Sabbath. We start at ⁓ sundown, usually on a Friday night. the first thing we do is we gather everyone around the table. And it is a very ⁓ moment because it's a time where I think all of our kids, they have grown up with Sabbath, and they know that there's gonna be this. really sacred moment of us ushering in the Sabbath. yeah, it's something that feels like there's a lot of anticipation with now. And that's really exciting for the kids. They are excited for the meal. ⁓ They are excited for the atmosphere. Yeah. ⁓ they're excited to hang out after. And they just know ⁓ a day of us being together and just doing fun stuff that's enjoyable is coming. I think that's r a really important thing that ⁓ doesn't come immediately. So the first time, the fourth time you do this, you might not have that around your table. ⁓ but I wanna encourage you that it does become normal to have this anticipation ⁓ once you kind of get through your first few Sabbaths and your first few kickoffs. Yeah. when you have a clear sabbath kickoff that you stick with each week, eventually your kids get used to that and they're not gonna let you off the hook. That's true, because then they learn to enjoy it. I think we did think about how to make our There's so there's actually power in the anticipation. And I also think kids just know the difference of what it feels like to be in Sabbath and not in Sabbath because they know you and I are totally focused on Our work is complete. ⁓ kick off memorable and fun for them. And so they want us to do it. it's kind of funny, I think about the weekends where maybe for some reason there was ⁓ a dance thing we had to go to or we were not feeling well. So we did pizza and just sat in the living room because somebody, you you or I were sick and we just kind of do the whole thing. And it's so different when we don't mark the moment. I think everybody's confused. You know, all week long we're we're striving ⁓ and there's tension between work and family time. But on Sabbath, it's a total unplug. And I think kids, they just love that so much. So when kickoff happens, ⁓ it's like the are ready for it. We're ready for it. Yeah. And we start by saying ⁓ Shabbat Shalom. Mm-hmm. and has gotten to the point now where they don't know or feel if they really have entered into the Sabbath rest time that we would like to have set apart. It's really interesting. I think it's almost like, you know how your body can remember? You know, like the reason we do piano practice is because we're training our bodies to remember or have muscle memory. I think that Sabbath kickoff almost, And what's really beautiful about that is the t table just gets really quiet as soon as everyone says Shabbat Shalo. Yeah, you're right. It's like a hush kind of falls over the table. Yeah. Which is amazing. We have seven really young children. It's like one of the rare moments in our home. Well, and they know the next thing we're gonna do is that ⁓ you're gonna light the candles just something that we started doing is we sing the doxology together. Do you wanna sing for us? trains your mind and your body to enter into rest. yeah, I think you're right. usually a few weeks within the year, there's something that, you know, changes how we kick off the Sabbath because of another scheduling conflict. And on those very rare Friday nights that we don't kick off our normal way, I think our bodies are like, No, I don't. No one wants to hear that. ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ I I would love to be entertained. No one will listen to this podcast anymore if we do that. So look it up if you don't know what the doxology is. It's very beautiful. It is. It's very, very short as well. And then we take communion together as a family and with whoever's joining us that night. So we have this ⁓ cool tray. Whoa, whoa, this doesn't feel right. This doesn't feel like the normal ⁓ we enter into rest. And scientifically, ⁓ they talk about when you come home work, if you just leave or especially if you work from home, and you go right into everything else, like you don't have a transition moment. Your body is just running still like it never really stops. And I think that's where it's like a cancrafted wooden tray. Yeah, and it holds the communion cups ⁓ that you get at like at church. So we literally just bought a giant box of those. ⁓ And ⁓ I line that up for everybody to have ⁓ like a grape juice ⁓ and a wafer. Some kind cracker. ⁓ we've noticed a huge difference it's that signal to stop. And noticed when we skip this part of our rhythm, I don't go into the evening feeling ⁓ like ⁓ stopped. it just feels like I'm going still at the same rate I was earlier. So what's the difference? And I really don't feel a difference. I'm still like emotionally heightened still. ⁓ And we just take communion Yeah. And I think this is such a special moment because you, as spiritual leader in the home, you take this on ⁓ as a very special and sacred moment. And stressed probably or takes time to come down from that stress. But I think the beauty of the kickoff is it just decompresses you all of a sudden and you can let that stuff go so much easier. It's kind of like when you're on vacation and you get to your destination when you get into the hotel room, or you get on the airplane or you get in the car for like the road trip, ⁓ there's something in you can just let out a huge exhale. It's crazy to me how every week you think of some unique way ⁓ share devotional before communion. But I think for someone that may be intimidated by ⁓ communion, because you've been leading communion for our family for years and years. ⁓ for the maybe the husband that's listening right now that is like, that's a really cool idea, ⁓ I'm kind of intimidated to lead communion for our family. ⁓ would say to encourage him? because you just know okay, now we are on our way, ⁓ now we have arrived. And that is exactly how it feels for me when I sit down at the table and we kick off our Sabbath. Yeah, yeah, when we actually figured out how to mark that moment, I that's when everything shifted. so your first few times leading communion, I say open to Luke 22, where Jesus is at the Last Supper, and just read his words and do that for as long as you like. You could that forever, and that would be sufficient. Yeah. And if ⁓ you want to add a thought. You know, at some point each week, ⁓ I usually add a little devotional thought. Super short because we have people with short attention spans sitting around the table. So true. I have a short attention span. So you know, you're welcome to add that if you want to, but you certainly don't have to. Well, and just so you know, ⁓ as listener, you might be thinking, Wow, this sounds like ⁓ so ⁓ I think another reason a kickoff matters, especially around the Sabbath rhythm is that it ⁓ marks a meaningful moment. you keep saying marks the moment and we use that language a lot. And when you think about other important, you know, events in our life, something as big as a wedding or graduation or even ⁓ more yearly like birthdays or even church services. ⁓ There's usually something marks the moment to begin that event. So like church service, a lot of churches have like a bell ⁓ that ⁓ signals beginning the service or- Wait, what? ⁓ This is a But yet unattainable because I don't know even if my kids could sit through 30 seconds of that. And I have to tell you, we are not expecting perfection out of our kids. ⁓ know they're little ⁓ they are gonna grow into maturity. They're gonna grow into appreciation for this ⁓ time. And although in our minds we're like, ⁓ I wish it could just be this like beautiful, quiet, moment communion, a lot times we have. No, like a church bell. ⁓ my goodness. I'm so sorry. I literally was thinking like somebody's up on stage with the little bell going ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding. I have stopped thinking church bell. No, like a giant church bell. You know, I'm thinking like, what is it called? Old faithful. That's the geyser. The three year old spilling her grape juice on the table, or we have another kid that's poking another kid in the side, or trying to tickle, or trying to make some sort of commotion. ⁓ And I think kind of the beauty ⁓ of this season life with young children is realizing that you don't have to have a perfect communion moment. Jesus is perfect for I'm thinking of the big the big bell for the United States the cracked one is not faithful Okay, now we have the power of the internet. Hold on. I'm look this up You know, I'm talking about that like a giant bell. So a lot of churches have a giant bell. Yes be getting a church service or even like I think of um What's another kind of mark the moment for like weddings? this moment moment of communion is really just a time to remember him. And I know, it can be frustrating. Like those moments happen. It be frustrating, but you you have to do it. And you have to remember sacredness is taught. So this is a sacred moment, but it's not in a young child. It's not even innate in most adults. Like how many The bride walks in. She does. It's the Liberty Bell. I'll give you credit. didn't remember the name of it either. literally in England. It's still a bell though. Okay, yes. or if you want to talk about little tiny bells, sometimes people hold a little triangle and mark the moment for dinner. It's so true. It's so true. But you're right. You're entering into something, right? Yeah. wedding like that music plays and People, do you know, don't take a sacred moment seriously. Yeah. And so if you're going to try to teach that this moment is sacred, you're going to have to model it And doing one thing for literally less than five minutes a week, it's going to take a while to actually become ingrained. ⁓ And I think giving yourself that realistic of like you're doing a little thing less than five minutes a week. Everyone stops talking and they know exactly what to do, right? We all turn our attention to the door to now watch as the ceremony begins. The church bell, like you said, that was great. That used to be a thing. Sorry. I'm clearly a Protestant in America in 2026. grew up Catholic. Yeah, that's true. So mass, that's when the bell kicks off 100%. Yeah. So I think that humans naturally mark moments. And you're gonna have to repeat that many, many, many, many times for your children to learn to be quiet, And I think now our children go on a good streak for the most part. And then a week or two is kinda rough. Yep. ⁓ But get through it. It's than five minutes and Mm-hmm. And it's important, it's worth it. that's good. And this would just make sense for Sabbath to begin. And actually, historically, if we want to talk about the Sabbath roots all the way back, more than 2000 years ago, the Jewish people, they didn't call it a Sabbath kickoff, but they did begin their Sabbath with a very special moment of lighting candles and praying a blessing on the children. Yeah, it's really cool actually when we have guests come for our Sabbath kickoff that it's almost every time the guests when they're leaving tell us that our Sabbath kickoff moment with all these different elements like lighting the candles and singing the doxology and communion together, ⁓ all say that was their favorite moment of the evening. ⁓ And so it's a high honor to be able to welcome your neighbors ⁓ and other believers. And it was just a very sacred moment. There's a lot of elements actually that the Jewish people do with their Sabbath that are very traditional that I think are very beautiful. I find those to be very special practices, not religious, but very special in ways to draw closer to God. Yeah, looking ⁓ into Exodus at the command itself. into your home and and don't forego this. Like when you have guests on your Sabbath kickoff, it can feel a little awkward at first to invite them into this rhythm with you, but you will be so blown away by how touched your guests are. many people don't do something like this. And have a moment of worship in a home, like you're not even in a church building ⁓ It does actually tell us to set apart the time to make it holy. It says in Exodus 20 verse 8, But We are the church. ⁓ It's like having this little of church in your own home. There's something so ⁓ humble ⁓ and raw and simple it. Yeah, very beautiful. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath through the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter. And it goes on and on. But the point is this is clearly set apart. It is to be different than every other day of the week. And I love what you had to say like. marking that moment, doing something to clearly identify it allows you to now say as a family, this moment is holy. moment will be different than every other day. Yeah. I think it's so powerful what you said earlier about how you feel it in your body. Like when we actually kick off Sabbath and we're going to share in just a few moments how we actually kick off the Sabbath and the steps we take. But you said like your body physically relaxes when we do these next few steps. it's almost like queuing, or telling yourself, telling your mind, body, heart and soul that we about to enter into a very special time and space. ⁓ Yeah. And I would say where the analogy breaks down is when somebody on the Packers kicks that ball off. I actually get really heightened and I'm ready to go. to rock? Let's go! Yeah, and the stress level actually jumps through the roof. So that's where the analogy breaks down. But yeah, think I like the terminology kickoff because especially our Midwest roots. when you go to a football game, you know that game has officially started with that kickoff. You turn your attention from something know, the conversation you're having, the chicken tenders you're eating. whatever and turned your attention toward that field, right? You actually turn though, right? remember being at high school games, ⁓ and I'd be talking to people, and the ball kicks off, and you turn your body physically out to the field watch. That actually reminds me of a quote about ⁓ Now, one I will say a with all of this, if you are hosting on the Sabbath and get into this practice. is to almost give your guests a little rundown of what you're about to do. ⁓ find that that does take the awkwardness out of it. Like we will say, you for being here tonight. We're going to kick off our Sabbath ⁓ in just a moments. And here's what we're about to do. We're gonna ⁓ sing the doxology. gonna take communion together. ⁓ Would that be right with you? ⁓ And they're ⁓ always like, that sounds wonderful. ⁓ that that's just a little tip to like help take out the awkwardness. And you might even text it before they even arrive ⁓ and just their permission if if it's okay they participate. ⁓ we don't normally non-believers for Sabbath kickoff. ⁓ I would say that is probably one thing already makes it pretty smooth that we're already having believers who, believe in Jesus Christ, who will honor the moment. we host our neighbors and friends who are not believers, ⁓ typically will host them on a different night. And that keeps it pretty straightforward. Yeah, that's a great call. And I think you do such a beautiful job of creating an atmosphere. This is a gift I do not have. So I would love for you to share what are some elements you ⁓ What gets your attention gets your heart. I think that is true. The moment give Sabbath your full attention is getting all of you that moment. It's getting your focus. everything you in that moment is directed towards this thing. incorporate into the evening to just kind of create a peaceful atmosphere that works for our family. Yeah, this is probably one of my favorite parts about being a homemaker is just atmosphere, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere ⁓ all time. it's not just for me hosting or just on Sabbath. I think that I'm always thinking about how to create ⁓ a ⁓ where family wants to be. And then you move toward it. Then you move toward it. And if you're not fully facing it, you're just kind of sliding in sideways, you're ⁓ not receiving the gift. And remember all this as we talk about Sabbath, Sabbath is a gift. this was a gift given to God's people who were slaves. ⁓ What better gift could you give to people who in slavery, working seven days a week, nonstop, being beaten while they do it? after we kick off Sabbath, then it's feasting time and the kids are all like, it's time to feast. And ⁓ all grab our paper plates and we create a little buffet on the island. We keep it so easy for Sabbath feast because ⁓ we don't to mess the cleanup afterwards. Usually we have most of the kitchen cleaned up before we eat ⁓ and we I said we use paper plates. So really it's just we go through the buffet, we grab our plates. What better gift could you give them than to not have to work? That you are going to take care of them. it is such a beautiful gift. So we do this out of joy, we do this out of love. we do not do this out of a requirement. or a burden. So now we're share how we actually kick off the Sabbath and hopefully you'll leave with a few ideas for your own family on how to do it too. I always have music playing for dinner, but I especially love my Billy Holliday jazz playlist. And if you don't know Billie Holliday, you have to look her up. She's a jazz musician, ⁓ artist, singer from the 1930s and 40s, and she just has really beautiful music. because we light the candles, it already creates this really cozy environment. if you've listened to other podcast episodes we've done, you know I don't like overhead lighting. ⁓ It is truly one of pet peeves. ⁓ It really is. ⁓ Yeah, just like it's cozy. It's so bright and so annoying. ⁓ I don't know. I love my lights ⁓ No, I just think that cozy lighting is wonderful. It it really lets us linger. It does let us linger. You're absolutely right. So I'd say the candles help. We have some twinkly lights on our tree not our Christmas tree, There's a tree, a decorative tree in the corner. A year long tree. ⁓ ⁓ you have so beautifully decorated with some lights that add some of that that ambiance. Ambiance. All about the ambiance. So that's the one thing I would encourage you to think about is what's the atmosphere? What's the ambiance that you're trying to create? to help us linger through Sabbath kickoff into the evening, ⁓ we to keep the kids around the table as long as possible. And in doing that, we invite the kids share. ⁓ You know, we try not to just you and I talking and catching up from the week, but we try to the kids into the conversation. ⁓ And we actually have a really great ⁓ guide that we created that I'll put the link in the show notes. But it's 30 questions that will help take your conversations deeper around the dinner table. And you can use it with guests or you can use it with your family. But ⁓ would say that you and I try to ask at least one or two like good questions. ⁓ it's simple as like even asking what are your highs and lows from the week. We do this on a daily basis, but on Sabbath, we specifically ask from the whole week. ⁓ was your high? What was your low? And we we love doing this even with guests ⁓ it can be so easy when you have guests for like the adults to congregate and talk and then the kids to like eat and dash. ⁓ we try to keep the families together for a good portion of the time ⁓ and conversations. Yeah, some good things that help that I think are keeping our phones away. So totally as soon as we kick off the phones are down. nobody has one around the table. Yeah. And then the anticipation of dessert. Yeah, keeps them. It's a great leverage. It's so true. I think half of parenting is identifying your opportunity for leverage. And dessert is a great leverage opportunity. Yeah. And we always have dessert on Sabbath. ⁓ like can you actually enjoy the Sabbath without some sort of sweet treat? ⁓ like to have many sweet treats actually. ⁓ usually I mean this is something that we haven't a on the podcast, but we do enjoy to have ⁓ a glass of red wine. We're not drinkers by any means, ⁓ actually very minimal. ⁓ but we do to open a bottle of wine sometimes on Sabbath kickoff. And use part of that for communion, but then enjoy it that evening with our friends. And think that that brings me to a point of delighting on Sabbath. ⁓ Creating ⁓ a kickoff that brings delight to you and your family will be key ⁓ if you want to with it every single week. if you dread if you dread your Sabbath kickoff because it's boring, not fun, it's stressful, exhausting, you know, whatever adjective you want to add in there. you will not stick with it. No, it's ⁓ is really true. ⁓ I think it's a good point we're trying to make here ⁓ is we've shared with you is not prescriptive. It is really just trying to help paint a picture. your Sabbath kickoff because it's boring, not fun, it's stressful, exhausting, you know, whatever adjective you want to add in there. you will not stick with it. No, it's ⁓ is really true. ⁓ I think it's a good point we're trying to make here ⁓ is we've shared with you is not prescriptive. It is really just trying to help paint a picture. Here are the elements that we use. ⁓ And if you're looking for somewhere to start, we encourage you to, know, latch on to some of these ⁓ ⁓ incorporate them, try them, change them. There is nothing that says ⁓ you must do this to start your Sabbath or else ⁓ Although the people will have lots of ⁓ rules and around how and what to do on the Sabbath, but we are free from that. Yeah. This is again, I think we talked about this earlier. This is out of joy. This is out of love. This is out of an act of worship. And so none of this is to check a box. None of this is because we think it's making us holier than anyone else. We just love it. This is out of joy. This is out of love. This is out of an act of worship. And so none of this is to check a box. None of this is because we think it's making us holier than anyone else. We just love it. Yeah. Truly. Yeah. So I think it's comes down to ⁓ what will make you ⁓ love Sabbath? will allow to accept the beautiful gift of Sabbath? You don't have to do a five step kickoff process. You could simply just light candles and say Shabbat Shalom. That could be a starting point for you. You don't have to make a full blown homemade feast. You could simply grab a rotisserie chicken, some Bob Evan microwaveable mashed potatoes, and a Caesar salad kit, and simply just kick off the Sabbath because. The goal is to get to Sabbath. It's not to create some, you know, difficult barrier that exhausts you even more because really the point of Sabbath is to enter into rest, to experience the rest in Jesus. so we don't share all these ideas today to ⁓ add to your to do list or to complicate it even further. ⁓ We want you to just Sabbath ⁓ and To mark that moment so that way your Sabbath is defined as a different time of the week. Yes, it is holy. I think that's really what it means in every time you read about the commands Sabbath, it always says, Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Yeah. To keep it separate. This is about creating a space where your family can just again. ⁓ Yeah, because years from now, our kids may not remember every meal that we make, but we believe they'll remember the feeling of Friday nights. Yeah, the peace, the slowing down, the laughter around the table, the presence of God in our home. And honestly, that's what we want people to know. Sabbath is not a burden, it's a gift. it's a gift that is so important. I really believe it's it's necessary because I don't think you can build a deeply rooted life without rhythms of rest. Yeah, when we talk about rooted family, I think that the most rooted families, they know how to prioritize both work and rest. And it's true. Without rhythms of rest, it's going to be ⁓ nearly impossible. To have a deeply rooted life. Yeah. These sacred moments, they don't just accidentally happen. They're going to be cultivated. Mm-hmm. And so I hope we encouraged you today. I hope we gave you that opportunity. know you don't aim for perfection. That's ⁓ what we're about. That's not what we're saying at all. We just want you to choose ⁓ one way to begin to mark your moment for rest. Yeah. So maybe for you it's gonna be this week lighting a candle. ⁓ Or maybe it's just praying together thank Lord for the Sabbath. ⁓ Maybe sharing dessert with a neighbor, ⁓ putting phones away. Just start somewhere. Start ⁓ one thing. you for being here today to listen to the Rooted Family podcast. And we are ⁓ grateful that you took the time and we look forward to having you next time. Yes. ⁓ Shabbat Shalom. Shabbat shalom.