Redacted Rhythms

Learning Sabbath

(**this is a scheduled post)

9/9/24: 10 Days from my due date. I sit in the kitchen, eager for the arrival of my baby girl. Enjoying a bowl of ice cream while my toddler naps. I’m both excited and nervous. Redacted or obscure rhythms are in my future. But for the past few months, my son and I have fallen into a routine.

Wake

Eat

Play

Explore

Eat

Sleep

Repeat

But what will that look like for a family of four?

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Throughout life, rhythms have changed. The cliche is that seasons have changed, but as a music teacher, I prefer the term rhythms. 

Because rhythms speed up or s l o w down, rhythms have changing dynamics and sounds. Some parts are routine, and others are filled with sharps, flats, and accidentals. 

Before each new shift in rhythm, I naturally worried. 

Highschool » College

College » Work

Single » Married

Wife » Mother & Wife

Boy Mom » Boy & Girl Mom

I had the privilege of sharing my thoughts with others, but often they were redacted.

It’s hard to know what to redact and what to share, especially when life is full of change, and we’re still processing things ourselves. Often, we need space to consider our motives, desires, and responsibilities. 

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The rhythm of Sabbath helped our family slow down and consider our choices. 

As a Type-A person it’s hard to slow down! Naturally, I want to check my phone at each stoplight and have a full to-do list.

But after reading Justin Earley’s Habits of the Household, I’m reminded that reflection is needed to make important decisions.

Practically, my husband and I try to pause from work and technology for 24 hours to rest and spend time together. It’s not perfect, but it’s restorative. (He’s a lot better at this!) But it’s something that has been beneficial, even with an active toddler running around.

Even the Psalmist had a song for the Sabbath.

Psalm 92:1-5, NIV

It is good to praise the Lord
    and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
    and your faithfulness at night,
 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
    and the melody of the harp.

 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
    I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
 How great are your works, Lord,
    how profound your thoughts!

Despite what new rhythms may bring, praising the Lord is still good in the morning, evening, and between. 

Because rhythms are not the source of our joy and there’s someone who offers an eternal perspective to shape our thinking.

We can find joy in loud and fast times or slow and quiet times.

When we’re overwhelmed by change and choices, we can take time to rest and reflect.

When we’re not sure what to redact, we can ask for wisdom.

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This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series “Redacted.”