Saturday, March 5
Sabbath
And on the seventh day God finished the work
God had done, and God rested… —Genesis 2:2
In
Sunday service our pastor often interrupted himself to say: “I know the ladies are concerned about the
pot roast burning, but . . . “ then
continue his sermon.
My
mother must have anticipated the delay because Sunday dinner was never
burned. Often Mom’s aunts and our
cousins from across the river were visiting; or Dad’s family came from farms
and small towns nearby; or we went to our grandparents’ farms.
Whether
it was at our home or a relative’s, Sunday was a day for family, going to
church, playing games, and eating noon meal together. I remember picnics at lakes, farm dinners,
fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, potato salad, and home-made ice cream
–a surprise treat that included debate between the uncles about whose recipe
was best. After dinner the adults
visited in circles in the living room while we cousins played.
It
was Sabbath. A time to set work aside,
to focus on being together forming family bonds that sustained us as we grew up
and moved on. In a way it was
involuntary Sabbath because “Blue Laws” were in effect in the Midwest that
limited the number of retail stores allowed to open on Sundays. Shopping, errands, meetings, and school
activities were not options. The
emphasis was on rest, renewal, and relationships, a good Sabbath combination
that made wonderful memories of childhood Sundays.
Linda Sperber
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