Family Sabbath-Keeping by Vina M. Sherwood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 26, 1904

Family Sabbath-Keeping

By Vina M. Sherwood

VINA M. SHERWOOD

“FROM even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbaths.”

In visiting the homes of Sabbath-keepers, I have been interested to observe the different methods of beginning and closing the Sabbath.

In some homes it seems as if everything on Friday afternoon is just seething and boiling; and as the Sabbath hours approach, there is a strenuous effort to cool things down, and rush for seats just as the sun sinks out of sight; but far too many times this is not even accomplished, and there is a lapping over of the six days’ work onto sacred time.

The family gather for worship, untidy, weary in mind and body, with thoughts still wandering on tasks hastily done or half finished. Worship is conducted in a half-hearted way. The evening is spent in dozing over the Sabbath-school lesson.

A Sabbath begun in this manner is usually closed, especially on the farm, by the children donning their everyday clothes half an hour before sunset, or even earlier in the afternoon, preparatory to doing the evening chores. With the changing of the garments, there is a letting down of the Sabbath spirit, and a feeling that the day will soon be over.

We are very particular to give God a tithe of all we possess, but what about the portion of our time that he requires of us—that one seventh of the week? Does he not tell us, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse”? Does he not expect us to give all the moments of the Sabbath to him? How niggardly we should feel if, when tithing twenty-five cents, we should give the Lord but two cents! So ought we to feel in regard to wasting one moment of the Sabbath.

I am glad all Sabbath-keeping families do not begin the Sabbath in the manner just described. I have in mind a family whose habits were different.

The family, consisting of a mother and four children, lived on a large farm. The children were instructed by precept and example that although Friday was the special preparation day, yet from Sunday to Sabbath there should be a general preparation for the Sabbath. Consequently, as the sun was sinking in the west Sabbath evening, the mother of these children gathered them about her, with clean faces, and clad in fresh garments. Together they sang this old Sabbath hymn,—

“Another six days’ work is done, Another Sabbath is begun; Return, my soul, enjoy thy rest, Improve the day that God has blessed.”

Then followed worship, all taking part. From the very first moments of its sacred hours it seemed that all caught the Sabbath spirit.

In the summer time, after Sabbath-school the family went for a walk to the woods. This contact with nature, and the lessons thereby learned of its Creator, still influence the lives of those children, though they are now to manhood and womanhood grown. The little group usually planned to return home just about the time of sunset. They often paused on a hill over which the lane wound to the woods, and as they watched the varied beauties of the sunset, their hearts were filled with reverence for him who traced the colors there; and thus with another hymn and prayer the Sabbath was closed, all having been refreshed spiritually, mentally, and physically for the coming week of work.