Day 39: Saturdays

Thank You, God, for Saturdays

Well, it doesn’t have to be a Saturday. Thank you, God, for the days we have off.

“Days off” is a bit of a misnomer, isn’t it? They’re not really “off.” They’re often the days we use to catch up on all the things we couldn’t get to while working. For adults, that might mean laundry, yard work, home repairs or simply rest and relaxation. And for kids, it’s finally time for the games they’ve wanted to play, the books they’ve been longing to read, the adventures they’ve been dreaming about, (I suppose I will mention the chores they may have neglected) — all pushed aside for school.

But Saturdays, or any day set apart from the grind of work, hold a kind of magic for me — especially as the weather warms up. They aren’t all laborious. In fact, what makes them special is that we get to choose how we spend them. Sure, sometimes they’re filled with chores and projects. Other times, they’re about weekend trips, spontaneous family fun, movie marathons, or simply doing as little as humanly possible. And for some of us, that last one is the dream.

Let’s be honest: sometimes, days off are more exhausting than the workweek. And weirdly, I think that’s part of their magic. Today, for example, I’m trying to get my lawnmower started for the first time this year, checking the weed eater, picking up sticks, fixing a wheelbarrow tire, writing this, and thinking about time with my family. And let’s be real—something else is bound to pop up. That may sound like a headache to some, but to me, it’s a kind of joy. Of course, there will be another Saturday soon where I might not even get out of bed (probably not, but you get my point). And that’s holy too.

At church, we talk a lot about Sabbath and rest. It’s important. God wired it into our design. It's in Scripture. Yet some of us feel like we never truly get a break. So I encourage you: find your Sabbath. It may not be Saturday or Sunday. It might be a walk in the evening or a quiet cup of coffee before the house wakes up. It sadly might not even start as a whole day.

As for me, I try to keep Saturdays and Sundays as sacred as I can — time with God, time with family, time for the work that refreshes my soul even if it tires my body. Not everyone would call what I do on my days off “rest,” especially if they saw me fighting with a lawnmower, but we’re each wired a little differently. Some of you are heading out to shop today — and to me, that sounds exhausting.

So maybe it’s not just Saturdays or days off that are special. Maybe the whole calendar is sacred — each season with its own invitation to do something, to slow down, take notice, and be grateful.

Thank you, God, for this season I’m in. Help me find the rest I need in it.

What are you grateful for on your off days?