Daily Prayer

I’ve always struggled to understand the concept behind the sabbath. It makes sense for a lot of the traditional men’s work, but not women’s. For example, I’ve been a stay at home mom with little kids in the past. The ‘work’ I did was not something I could just stop for a day. It just seems so silly. No one is going to eat? Babies won’t need diapers changed? Toddler isn’t going to spill milk and make a giant mess? The mess generation capability of children is legendary lol

And the idea that women could just then cook double on the day before sabbath so as not to cook on the sabbath is also a little wild to me. Thanksgiving and the day after are not easier in total than two normal days of cooking, at least for me. Cooking enough food for two days is quite a lot of work depending on the size of your family (and number of ovens, cassserole dishes, pots and pans, fridge size). So many limiting factors that make the whole idea to do all the work the day before the sabbath so there’s no work to do on the sabbath just so impractical and actually more work for the things that traditionally women have done

Kristin

I agree Kristin that a "day of rest" doesn't happen when caring for our babies and family. What we tried to do is either add special fun on Sunday as a family or my husband would take the helm while I went out on a walk or bike ride. My alone time with God was keeping a "day of rest" or our fun family time was "keeping a day off rest" as it revitalized both my husband and me.
I'm glad you posted, because it made me think if that"day of rest" happened for me when our children were babies. When they got older, we pushed them to get homework done on Saturday and then to take Sunday for their "day of rest. "
Carol
Salt Lake City, Utah

Berkaskr7 wrote: ↑Saturday Aug 29, 2026 I’ve always struggled to understand the concept behind the sabbath. . . .
Kristin

Yeah Kristin. Orthodox Jews actually do this! The men spend Friday doing all the home/yard work and the women fix all the food for Saturday.

But Jesus really put some "common sense" into Sabbath practice. Babies need to have their diapers changed. Blown fuses need to be replaced. In particular to the Bible, doctors and nurses have to help anyone whose health would be endangered. I try very hard not to do any shopping and I'm about 99% successful. I don't turn on my work computer.

Carol has a lot to say on the issue. But Jesus had the most to say: The Sabbath is made for us, not for God. He wants us to take a day off, the best we can. He wants us to give our "servants" a day off, too.

I will say, too, that although Jesus observed the Sabbath, Paul apparently told us that we do not need to do it. - Mason