"And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done." Genesis 2:2
At the end of the homeschool day, my kids and I all need to rest, but that is far more than just cessation of work. It means embracing the whole idea of the Sabbath and what it means for our whole lives - something I am honestly just beginning to understand, at least in part thanks to a Priscilla Shirer Bible study I have been leading for the last five weeks called Breathe. So this post is going to be a bit different from my previous six, as I share my heart and what God has been showing me about how to incorporate rest into our homeschool day and year.
At the end of the homeschool day, my kids and I all need to rest, but that is far more than just cessation of work. It means embracing the whole idea of the Sabbath and what it means for our whole lives - something I am honestly just beginning to understand, at least in part thanks to a Priscilla Shirer Bible study I have been leading for the last five weeks called Breathe. So this post is going to be a bit different from my previous six, as I share my heart and what God has been showing me about how to incorporate rest into our homeschool day and year.
First, the whole idea of the Sabbath is less about the actual need to rest from work and more about what resting reminds us about God and about ourselves. After all, God was the first one to "rest" and He certainly didn't need to. However, in resting and establishing the Sabbath, He did several things: set the weekly rhythm for us of working six days and resting one; established one day a week as holy and belonging to Him; and gave us a regular reminder of His sovereignty over us, including His ability to care for us.
It is that last point that is hitting home for me right now. When I don't rest, it is usually because I feel like whatever goal I have will not happen unless I keep on working, because it's all on me. Now, sometimes that is true. There are seasons we all go through when we need to just push through and get something done, whether it is packing for a trip or finishing a project for school or work. But when we live in that mode all the time, we need to ask where our priorities are and who we are trusting to reach them. If our priorities line up with God's, and He said to make sure we rest, then we can rest, knowing that He will give us what we need to get our work done, just like He gave the Israelites a double portion of manna the day before the Sabbath so they could rest the next day without going hungry.
It is that last point that is hitting home for me right now. When I don't rest, it is usually because I feel like whatever goal I have will not happen unless I keep on working, because it's all on me. Now, sometimes that is true. There are seasons we all go through when we need to just push through and get something done, whether it is packing for a trip or finishing a project for school or work. But when we live in that mode all the time, we need to ask where our priorities are and who we are trusting to reach them. If our priorities line up with God's, and He said to make sure we rest, then we can rest, knowing that He will give us what we need to get our work done, just like He gave the Israelites a double portion of manna the day before the Sabbath so they could rest the next day without going hungry.
So how does all this apply to our homeschool? First up are our goals in scheduling times of rest. One goal is to refresh. Kids expend a lot of energy learning, and they need breaks to recharge - and so do we as their teachers. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Another goal is for me to remember that the "success" of our homeschool does not rest on me, it rests on God. By scheuduling times to be done with working (when work is never really "done"), I am acknowledging that no matter how much work I do, success ultimately rests on God, not me. Three, my kids need to learn now, while they are young, the principle of the Sabbath. That rest is a good gift from God, and that He is the one who supplies where we are lacking.
So with all that in mind, here is how I am trying to make rest a regular part of our homeschooling:
1. We rest after every block. We take a five-minute break, no matter what. If my daughter finishes faster than the designated time, she can have a longer break or save it all up for later, but no matter what, we take a quick breather.
2. We rest when we are done for the day. I try to make sure we are not so scheduled that we don't have time to breathe in between activities, and I am notoriously BAD at this. My default is to squeeze as much as I can into as little time as possible. That is what I am trying to change, in part by making sure my children have gobs of unscheduled time each day.
3. Throughout the year. We homeschool all year long, but that does not mean we homeschool every single day. We take breaks. We sometimes have a day that we intend to do school and end up doing something else entirely. Our commitment to year-round homeschooling gives us that flexibility.
1. We rest after every block. We take a five-minute break, no matter what. If my daughter finishes faster than the designated time, she can have a longer break or save it all up for later, but no matter what, we take a quick breather.
2. We rest when we are done for the day. I try to make sure we are not so scheduled that we don't have time to breathe in between activities, and I am notoriously BAD at this. My default is to squeeze as much as I can into as little time as possible. That is what I am trying to change, in part by making sure my children have gobs of unscheduled time each day.
3. Throughout the year. We homeschool all year long, but that does not mean we homeschool every single day. We take breaks. We sometimes have a day that we intend to do school and end up doing something else entirely. Our commitment to year-round homeschooling gives us that flexibility.
Finally - what do we do with this time? Whatever we want! That is the blessing of rest. It is unscheduled time to play, to read, to get out energy, whatever.
That said, I am trying to guide my children to making good decisions about their free time. Unlimited screen time is not an option. One thing I am trying is to put this list in my daughter's planner so she can keep track of how she has used her time.
Today, I.....
___ watched something.
___ read something.
___ played something.
___ built/made something.
___ played and talked with someone.
How much is REST a part of your homeschool day? Share it below!
That said, I am trying to guide my children to making good decisions about their free time. Unlimited screen time is not an option. One thing I am trying is to put this list in my daughter's planner so she can keep track of how she has used her time.
Today, I.....
___ watched something.
___ read something.
___ played something.
___ built/made something.
___ played and talked with someone.
How much is REST a part of your homeschool day? Share it below!
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