“Mommy…” I hear the warning tone of his voice across the sunroom. “It’s Sunday, you know…you’re not supposed to be on the computer on the Sabbath day, right?” It’s true. It’s Sunday, and one of my Sabbath “rules” is no technology. And there I am, sitting at my desk in the corner of the sunroom with my laptop open as Noah walks up behind me.
I’m writing a letter to Pedro, the Bolivian boy we sponsor through Compassion. I haven’t written to him since August, but the sermon I just heard in church, about putting faith into action, has prompted me to come home, sit down at my desk and write the letter I’ve been procrastinating for months.
Truth be told, writing to the children we sponsor isn’t my favorite activity. Often it feels like a chore, mostly because I don’t know what to say. What do I have in common with a five-year-old boy I’ve never met, a boy who speaks Spanish and lives in dire poverty? I’m not even sure I could pinpoint Bolivia on a map.
So yes, technically Noah is right. I am breaking my own Sabbath rules. Not only am I on my computer, I’m also doing what I would consider a task, a chore. I am working.
Yet like I explained to Noah, I also know it’s the right thing to do. I care about Pedro. I pray for him, worry about him, think about his family. His picture sits on my desk, right above my computer, so I can look at his huge brown eyes every day. So while writing to Pedro is a chore in some ways, it’s also a good deed, an act of worship, an activity that honors God and feeds my love and compassion for this boy I’ve never met.
“I have a question for you,” Jesus said to the Pharisees, who accused him of breaking the Sabbath by healing a man’s deformed hand. “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save a life or destroy it?” (Luke 6:9)
Sometimes, like the Pharisees, we miss seeing the forest through the trees when we focus too closely on the legalistic side of Sabbath and other spiritual practices. Those of us who are rule-followers, like me, are especially guilty of this. I’ve always been a “good girl.” I’ve always followed the rules. I like rules. They keep me honest and on track. But they can also keep me from seeing and understanding the big picture.
I’m glad I broke the Sabbath last Sunday. Because even though it was work, it was good work. And that letter to Pedro? In some small way, it may help save his life.
Has rule-following ever inhibited you from seeing the big picture in your faith?
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yes. the rules get in the way sometimes, but i find that with age, come the teensiest bits of wisdom, so i am less likely to be that stickler….
Yes, with age. You are so right, Kendal. I am a slow learner, but I am slowly learning.
A teachable moment for Mom. I love it! And I love Kendal’s comment about “the teensiest bit of wisdom.” How is it that, with age, things become less black and white? Interesting.
Love the way our kids keep us accountable. And I noticed that the scriptures yesterday all had to do with people being mad about Jesus breaking the rules of Sabbath. Gave me some pause and freedom all at the same time. Enjoy doing this journey of focus on Sabbath rest with you Michelle.
Was thinking of you yesterday, Shelly, when I saw the reading about Sabbath! What good timing!!
Girl, I am a first born, perfectionist, A-type personality girl. Do you THINK rules get in the way of my faith??? Boy, do I have stories. I’m learning, though, like you. Mostly for me is about relationships. I am task-oriented so relationships tend to take the back seat behind tasks but every day God shows me that the only thing that really matters in this world is our relationships. You know the saying: if you want to know the measure of a man, count his friends.
The fact that you are a first-born, perfectionist, Type-A just makes me love you more, Gaby!
And yes, you are SO right — that was the key word in the sermon yesterday: relationship.
“Often it feels like a chore, mostly because I don’t know what to say. What do I have in common with a five-year-old boy I’ve never met, a boy who speaks Spanish and lives in dire poverty?”
Exactly! I have a 7-yr-old friend in El Salvador through World Vision, and my goal is to write him monthly, but of course I fail.
But yes, it’s an act of worship. I love that perspective.
And you did good to break the rules. May we all be such wise rule-breakers.
You done good, Michelle. From one rule-keeper to another, you did the right (write) thing by composing your letter to this wee 5-year-old boy in Bolivia. Even on ‘The Sabbath’! It was your spiritual act of worship, indeed! Pedro will be blessed and lifted by your letter.
Now, wouldn’t you know that I was at a retreat this weekend, and I started thinking about sponsoring another child through Compassion. I think God is laying that on my heart. And now, here you go inspiring me some more! 🙂 No surprise there. Love how this works.
And you know what? I’ve been feeling a Holy Spirit push to sponsor another child, too. Reading Kisses from Katie recently got me thinking about how much more we could be doing. So you are prompted by me…and now you are prompting me right back again – it’s true…so cool how it works. God works in so many ways, through so many people!
Great post, sometimes God askes us to do things that don’t fit in the box, He is such an individual God, who wants such a personal relationship with us. It’s awesome that you heard His voice and obeyed. Can’t wait to link up with you guys.
I come from an extreme legalistic background so I’m always fighting against it in my own life. I have to stop and ask myself if I’m insisting on it for the rule’s sake or for God’s sake. It’s a journey. Your words spoke to me.
Great story – and a very convicting message. I liked your question at the end. There’s no doubt that my rule-breaking has hurt my faith. Never really considered the rule-following as a possible inhibition. But it’s an interesting thought. Especially if those rules are man-made and they go against the law of Love that Jesus displayed in His life. I’m going to be thinking about that…
GOD BLESS!
Hey there! So good to be back here and of course I miss the website change…it’s amazing that without the www it really is a different place;}
Amen & Amen to all of this. And to getting around ourselves to writing the sponsored children…I needed to be reminded of that, the kids are at the place where we can do it together. And a great Sabbath activity and all of that…trusting you are well this new year:}
I am so jazzed about the amount of conversation going on about keeping the Sabbath. I haven’t officially joined any of the conversations, but I’m doing a whole lot of lurking and thinking. I think God is so pleased when we try, in our own flawed ways, to receive this gift he’s given us.
My pastor is big on Sabbath keeping but has tried to help us see it as a blessing and not as a chore. One of the things he said, which I thought of when reading your post, is not to think about whether or not an activity is appropriate on the Sabbath, but to ask, “Is there something better I could do? Is there someone to whom I could show mercy, for example?” And that’s what you did. So good for you 🙂
I love your pastor’s subtle take on Sabbath — and I love that you are lurking/thinking/mulling over it all, too, my dear. It’s been good for me. A challenge in many ways, but good.
Absolutely Michelle! I think if we are honest with ourselves, we all (us adults anyway) can get caught up in the web of “have-to’s”, “need’to’s”, “do’s” and “don’ts”. I think God is doing a work in me, all of us….in the church….freeing us from the legalism of binding “religious rules” and taking us all into the open fields of His glorious presence…where fields are green & the water of His life is abundant and limitless! So good to have you join us at UNITE link up today! Bless you, my sweet, sweet friend!
Guess who has been putting off writing her compassion child, too? Thanks for this timely “kick in the pants.”