Summertime

 

 

Summer…The season in the middle; full of sunshine, swimming, cookouts, gardening, flip flops, popsicles, the great outdoors, sunscreen and vacations.  For many, we were programmed early in life to long for the break from cold, school, and routine.  Summer seems to hold a lure of freedom over most people. 

 

When my kids were younger, our summer days were filled with adventure.  Exploring all the things we never seemed to have time to during the other months.  We found adventure at the park, in water play, picking fresh vegetables or in books.  The spark of something new just around the corner rarely left their eyes.  For some moms, dread seems to be the stronger emotion when the challenge of summer and keeping their children from being sucked deep into screen-time are before them.  Survival is all they can muster.  No matter your age, summer is the season to implement the joy of discovery, the hope of friendships and the love of rest.   

 

Summer offers up endless opportunities to discover new things.  Watching my kids dig around in the garden as we planted flowers and vegetables allowed them to discover pinchers and ants, spiders and multi-legged insects, worms, lady bugs and more.  One of our all-time favorite bug discoveries was finding a praying mantis sitting on the rail of our deck munching on a bee it held tightly.  God’s creation was all around us, but we needed to engage to see it. 

 

Another avenue of discovery came through books.  During the school year, reading often fell into the homework category over the joy one.  So, in the summer, we ventured to the library on a regular basis to explore the hundreds of books we never knew were written.  Spending time searching for the shark section or finding a new series of fictional adventures was necessary to cultivate a love for the written word.  Reading should never be viewed as a chore, but rather as a way to discover what you never knew or dreamed of.  My kids always had the option to make money over the summer by reading.  From Memorial Day to Labor Day, they tracked the pages of age/level appropriate books.  1,000 pages paid $10, 2,000 paid $20, 3,000 paid $30 and if they reached 4,000 pages, they claimed the bonus of $50.  If they tried to tell me they were bored, I would remind them they could be making money!  Reading for pleasure during the summer should be pursued by all.

 

The great outdoors was also meant to be discovered during the summer via foot and bikes.  Riding by the river or exploring a field created curiosity about animals and people who passed this way before us.  Oh—the collection of rocks we had should have shifted the earth.  Their imaginations spun endless stories of adventures from times past.  There was always another possibility when telling about a treasure found.  Watching leaves float down a stream of water, sword fights with sticks, and pretend camping in a wilderness fort allowed my kids to discover more about nature and themselves.  Looking around, we can imagine the covered wagon riders, those traveling by train or in the old car with all the windows down.  So much seems different, but might look very similar to when they passed this way.  Great joy can be found through discovery whether real or imagined.

 

Summer is also a time to explore the hope found in cultivating friendships.  Often, our summer schedules contain more open spaces than other times during the year.  With these openings, we can create connections which would otherwise be difficult to make.  Planning play dates at the park or museum, arranging lunch or coffee with someone new, joining a new group at the library, starting a book club or hosting a neighborhood social provide avenues to reach out and grow new friendships.  Summers always provided new friendships for me.  Going to church camp solo meant I was either going to be lonely or leave with a handful of new friends.  I also looked forward to meeting new people with those who came to visit someone where I lived or when I traveled to visit someone in another town.  My children met friends through summer activities such as VBS, sports camps and story time.  Reaching out to those whom we desire to get to know seems to be easier when the weather is beautiful and atmosphere more laid back.  We were created for human connection and relationship.  The hope found and shared through friendship should be cultivated during summer break.

 

Summer also gives way to rest through a new routine.  By laying down other seasonal activities, we are free to embrace the rest offered.  Slowing down to enjoy a quiet moment in nature, picking up a book you have been longing to read,  or gathering around a campfire to share stories don’t happen when our life is full of activity.  Leaning into the stillness offered during this time brings restoration to our bodies, souls and minds.  During the summers when all my kids were under foot, an hour of quiet time in their rooms was mandatory for everyone.  Age didn’t matter, but a quiet activity alone was a must.  Spending time away from others, from technology and busyness allowed their spirits to rest and be refreshed.  Carving out some down time as the temperature rises is a way to restore oneself. 

 

We are only given a few windows of opportunity to capture the freedom summer offers.   By choosing to discover something new, joy can be found.  By engaging with someone new, hope for more friendships blooms.  By embracing the slower pace of summer, the love for rest will enter.   Each and every one of us can enjoy the freedoms and opportunities summer offers…no matter our age.