Day of Rest

This past weekend, we broke away from our usual routine and attended the vigil Mass on Saturday night instead of our usual Mass at 8:00 Sunday morning.  My family does not generally embrace change well.  I tease them that the family motto is “Commutationum timemus” or “We fear change.”

Our lives are so fast paced.  We live by a tight schedule and try to fit everyone and everything in.  Imagine my delight on Sunday morning wen we woke up and there was nothing to do but simply be.  The Computer Guy and I curled up under the covers until the insistent cries of the baby finally forced us to get up. 

We wandered down the stairs as the children watched a movie (The Princess and The Frog) in the living room.  #2 came in to find me.  He wrapped his arms around my waist and asked me what beignets were and could we have them for breakfast.  I started to tell him they were too much trouble, but then remembered that we had absolutely nowhere to go and nothing planned for the entire day.  Beignets?  Sure, why not.

My son and I found a recipe (thank you, Paula Deen) and mixed up a batch.  He went back to the living room and my husband and I went on a leisurely walk to get coffee.  By the time we returned, the dough had risen and needed to be cut.  I let the 10 year old do it.  He was thrilled.

The recipe said “makes 3 dozen.”   It lied.  I don’t know an exact number, but it made enough square doughnuts fill 5 plates.  We ate until we were done and then sent the children out with plates of extras for all of our neighbors.

The whole day was just an unplanned meandering of time.  We laughed, smiled and talked without a clock telling us when to do it.  God knew what he was doing when He commanded us to rest one day a week in honor of Him.  We need to stop and look around as the world goes flying past.  We need to catch our breath and remember who we’ve got with us and why we like them so much.  We need a day to just be.

Next week?  My children have decided that baking for the neighbors is fun, so we’re going to do it again.  I’m not sure what we’ll make, but I’m sure it will come to them.  I just need to remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be fun.  And if we decide that we’d rather go fishing in the creek instead?  Well, that’s the kind of change of plans that a day of rest is for.