Our Radical Sabbatical Part II
There are only twenty-four hours in a day. Why was it then that I felt like I was spending twenty-three of those hours behind my steering wheel? Last January, in an attempt to regain control of our busy and sometimes chaotic lives, my husband and I decided to give our four children (ages 6-16) an activity “time-out.” The results of our year long ‘Radical Sabbatical’ are in.
For twelve months there were no baseball practices, voice lessons, or anything else that I had to drive the children to. Surprisingly, our teenagers fared much better than our younger children. It was difficult telling Samuel our six year old that he wouldn’t be signing up for soccer this year. While our our son David, at thirteen didn’t complain much at all. Support was strong from grandparents, however some friends made a few cutting remarks under their breath. Yet interestingly enough, as the months passed, these same friends would call to hear all about our sabbatical and to express interest in an activity time-out for their own families.
When we made the decision to stop our ‘captivity of activity’ we made a point to do something special each month as a family. We called it our ‘family day’. In January, our eight year old daughter Grace chose our outing. This meant her father and I were on ice skates for the first time in twenty years. I called this our “2007 Prayers on Ice Tour.” A picnic at our local ‘Daffodil Hill’ in March was my choice for our special time together. We were well on our way to our wooded destination, when we happened to pick a spot on a secluded mountainside for lunch. Within moments we realized that we were in the middle of a butterfly migration. The children squealed with delight as hundreds of butterflies danced around them, while their father and I sat speechless.
Our sabbatical has personalized the scripture in Luke 10:41-42 where Jesus tells an overworked and frustrated Martha, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” We are making a conscious effort to choose that better part. We have said no to many good things in order to say yes to some great family memories.
This twelve month journey has given us opportunity for daily time together. We have more dinner table discussions, we have discovered joy in lazy Saturdays, and peace in a less chaotic weekly schedule. This year we will allow our children to partake in selected activities, though now we are much more guarded. How often have I heard a much older and wiser parent tell me, “Enjoy this time together, they grow up so fast.” Now I can respond by telling them that we are enjoying this time together, and no longer will life pass by so quickly. We are holding on to every moment.
Joanne Kraft believes she is ‘So Blessed’. She is a stay at home mom and writer who enjoys spending time gardening, thrift store shopping and blogging. Married to a husband who can always make her laugh, they are raising their four children in
