Soon, summer will be here and the children will no longer be in school. It will be the season of sun, fun, swimming and vacations. I know some people dread summer because they have to make plans for their kids, but it’s a time of gratitude. The hustle and bustle of the school season is over and now it’s time to relax and have fun with your children, family and friends.
Welcome the season with a grateful heart
We must welcome summer with grateful hearts. We can trade homework, extracurricular activities and soccer games for swimming pools, homemade ice cream and sunbathing. Tis the season to spend time with your kids.
See God’s goodness in longer days and warmer light
One of the best things about summer is the longer days. There is something about extra light that uplifts the spirit and makes you feel more alive compared to the cold, dark days of winter.
Longer days give us more hours to see clearly, work peacefully, and rest without the rush of our normal routines. More sunlight allows us to notice the things we miss during the bitter days of winter, like children laughing and playing outside, our neighbor’s garden coming to life, and watching a beautiful sunset on the porch.
They are also signs of God’s goodness in our lives.
Gratitude for rest, renewal, and the rhythms of the Sabbath
This season also brings a sense of rest, renewal, and slower Sabbath rhythms into our days. Not having to get up early to take the children to school allows us to rest; renewal comes through refreshing our spiritual lives, pursuing new or long-lost hobbies, or spending quiet time visiting friends.
Our Sabbath days are much more relaxed, rather than having evenings where we have to scramble to get everyone ready for work and school the next day. This gives us more time to stop, receive, remember, and delight in the Lord.
We show our gratitude for rest, renewal, and the Sabbath in the following ways:
● We have clarity after waking up from sleep.
● We exercise patience by stepping away from our daily routine.
● There is perspective in silence.
● We notice that healing occurs when we stop struggling.
● Renewal comes from healthy sleep and routines.
● Time spent in nature brings us renewal.
● Worship and reflection renew our minds.
● We renew our friendships through laughter and shared meals.
● We also renew ourselves through music, reading, art and prayer.
● Cease ordinary work on the Sabbath.
● Keep commitments simple.
● Eat your meals without rushing.
These things encapsulate gratitude for rest, renewal, and the Sabbath.
Counting Daily Blessings in Ordinary Summer Moments
Summer has its own soundtrack that allows us to count daily blessings in ordinary summer moments. It sounds like the chirping of crickets at dusk, the sound of a sprinkler, an ice cream truck with its tinkling music, or the sound of children screaming and playing in the street. All this becomes the rhythm of the season. Although ordinary, they can bring a sense of belonging and evoke deeply comforting memories.
The subtle sounds of summer are also important, like the clinking of ice in a glass or the gentle whir of a ceiling fan during an afternoon nap. These little details anchor us in the present moment and remind us that life is happening now, encouraging us to stay there.
Gratitude in creation: lessons from the beauty of nature
Summer has its own natural beauty. The trees are in bloom with bright green leaves and flowers; the grass is a fresh emerald green and the clear sky at night allows us to see all the stars. Trees also provide shade, fruit and oxygen. The oceans that people love to visit regulate the climate and nourish countless forms of life. Birds sing loudly at dawn and creatures like squirrels run through the trees to our amusement.
As we look at the things God has created for us, let us thank Him for the beauty He has given us.
Share blessings with family, friends and neighbors
Summer is the perfect time to share your blessings with family, friends and neighbors. Prepare an elaborate meal on a Saturday or Sunday and invite members of your extended family. Have you planted a garden? Share your surplus products with your neighbors and friends. Do you have a swimming pool? Invite your child’s friends and their parents to come join you. If you like, ask everyone to bring a dish and make it a potluck. Does your child mow the lawn during the summer? Hire them to take care of mowing your elderly neighbor’s lawn all summer long. This summer, consider volunteering with your children. There are many ways to bless the people around you this summer.
Remembering God’s Faithfulness During Summer
With a slower pace of life, summer is a great time to sit and reflect on God’s faithfulness. Find a quiet place to be alone with your thoughts and the Lord and reflect on all He has done for you this year. Maybe He answered prayers in unexpected ways or gave you strength to get through some tough times this year.
Take a notebook or journal and write down what prayers he answered this year and what those answers were. Next, write down the prayers you are still waiting for answers to. After writing down your thoughts, thank Him for the blessings in your life and for His faithfulness in your life in providing you with everything you need.
Practicing Contentment as Summer Plans Begin
Summer comes with its own set of expectations: to make the season “perfect.” There is an unspoken need to make this time memorable, which means the pressure is on to book the perfect vacation, have memorable experiences, constantly entertain the kids and host gatherings. Instead of returning to refreshed routines, people return exhausted and exhausted. This is not how summer is supposed to be.
On top of that, many people are scrolling through social media and seeing other people having the perfect vacation with their amazing kids and fantastic spouse. Or the perfectly organized meeting with beautiful food and drink presentations. They feel like if they do these things right, we will be happy, free, and fulfilled. All these things do is trap us into “discontentment” and “keeping up with the Joneses.”
Instead, we must grasp the ring of contentment and hold on to it tightly. We can still have a great summer if we don’t do big elaborate things. Being content means we need to ask ourselves, “Can I be at peace right now, even if everything doesn’t turn out the way I hoped?” Our answer should be yes.
Instead of envying what others have or do, we should be satisfied with our own lives. Envy only leads to comparison and discontent. Our summer can still be fantastic without all the frills.
We can do this by…
● Keep a gratitude journal for the summer.
● Name three good things in the end.
● Thank others more often and more specifically.
● Before meals or events, take a break and enjoy the moment.
Living gratitude as a testimony to Christian joy
We can experience our gratitude to God in a variety of ways, including:
● Thank God for answered prayers.
● Thank him for his forgiveness.
● Being grateful, He has blessed you with a community you can lean on.
● Be grateful for the lessons learned through trials.
These are things that people notice that inspire them to want to know more about the Jesus we serve.
Summer is a great time to reflect on what we are grateful for. Take time today to count your blessings.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Choreographer
