For Leah, this meant food-shopping, cleaning, changing linens, and picking up a beautiful bunch of flowers. She viewed the Sabbath as a special guest who deserved a clean, organized, and welcoming place to unwind. Sabbath was a weekly holiday; it was always wholeheartedly and sincerely celebrated. Sabbath was something to get excited about.
Although Sabbath is not part of my religious tradition, I love it. As a once-busy New Yorker living in a tiny space, preparing my home for the weekend was a much-welcomed gift to myself. It forced me to take care of my physical and emotional needs.
My thoughts turn to the Sabbath as I look upon this weekend with the dread I've felt for the past couple of months. Unfortunately, weekends have become a heavy, fraught time. It's horrible to admit this -- however, I want to change my perspective.
I'm going to use today for Sabbath preparation. Even if that only means dusting and vacuuming, I feel like I need to give it a try. I need to do things differently, and this is something that once worked.
Hope I can make it work again.
