Embracing the Slow

Liesl Schiavone reflects on the need for rest in our hurried lives, learning the need to choose to embrace the unforeseen slow days. 

This January, due to a broken boiler at school and a massive snowstorm, my kids scored an extra week of Christmas break. The alert came through as we were cleaning rooms and clearing desks to return to school the next day. My kids cheered with thunderous applause.   

Knowing the forecast for the following week and reflecting upon the recent decibel levels in my house from noisy kids and sibling quarrels, a feeling of frustration came over me, "Ugh, I guess we're not getting back into a routine any time soon."   

And then my heart sank. Why was that my reaction? They were rejoicing over being home, and I was wishing them away. How often do we wish away the hard at the expense of the beautiful? These days were a gift. I needed to set aside my desire for a quieter and cleaner home and embrace the gift of this extra time.   

The words of a psalm spoke to my hurried heart. 

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. (Psalm 116:7)

We stopped the organizing and the bedroom cleaning and returned to our regular Christmas break programming - cuddling siblings, projects at the dining room table, and Wii Sports tournaments. 

Today’s Hurried Culture  

We live in a tremendously hurried time; as a culture we’re as afraid of slow days as we are of silence. We’re uneasy with a lack of routine and we feel lost when we’re given the precious commodity of “free time.” We make our homes magnificent, full of entertainment and comfort, and then fill our evenings with extracurricular activities in fear of being left behind. We fill our lives with amenities, and when a three-day weekend comes along, we bolt — searching for more adventure and activity, doing everything we can to avoid the potential of a moment of boredom. 

The Lord’s Desire   

But the Lord desires our rest. He delights in who we are at rest and at work and he rejoices in the building of family bonds that can only happen in the context of shared life together. We’ve lost sight of our weekly sabbath and have become annoyed at the seasonal ones that are sent to slow us down. But He has dealt bountifully with us and therefore, we can rest. And we should.   

I know how guilty I am of refusing rest. I’m not good at slowing down and I crave the momentum of a busy schedule. I cling onto the structure and order of my day so that I can cope with my own frustrations in the middle of this chaotic season. But I also know that as Mom, there is truly nothing better for my heart than having my whole family under one roof, with nowhere to go and no one to see. Time to lean into who we are as a family and embrace the fleeting days we have in this house I’ve strived to make a home. Therefore, I’m grateful for that broken boiler and those 14 inches of snow.  

Our extra week of break was full of slow mornings, hot chocolate, and kid movie nights. Sure, there was sibling fighting and excessive noise, as there is bound to be — but there was also a lot of laughter, working together, and helping each other. There was a little extra time to be the hands and feet of Jesus, right here at home. And best of all, they were all under one roof. As suspected, the routines and schedules were waiting for us.   

Next time the busyness of life hits a screeching halt, take a breath and soak it in. You just might need it more than you think. 

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Copyright 2025 Liesl Schiavone
Images: Canva