It’s Memorial Day weekend.
In Minnesota it is the season of sweatshirts and shorts. Everyone heads to “the lake” (like there’s only one instead of 10,000) to put the boat in in spite of the fact that ice-out was only a couple of weeks ago.
We are an optimistic lot and we live for our glorious summer months like an addict jonesing for a fix.
When my kids were young we made “SUMMER GOALS” on a big chart that we hung in our kitchen – recreational, reading, serving, spiritual physical… (Sanity in the Summertime was my go-to book) It was fun (color coded, of course)!
It worked for us. I’m a former teacher so I love this kind of structure, but I know some of you are rolling your eyes thinking “Oh that’s so precious!”
Still, if we aren’t intentional, September 1st will roll around and we’ll think “Whaaaat happened? Summer’s over??” So, no guilt and no big goal chart, but can I offer 5 questions that might be helpful?
- What’s one book you want to read? A few inspiring suggestions:
- A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken
- The Hiding Place by Corrie TenBoom
- Long Way Gone by Charles Martin
- The Sensible Shoes Series by Sharon Garlough Brown
- The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg
And if you want a resource to find great books for your kids, check out Books that Build Character by William Kirkpatrick
2. What’s one thing you’d like to create or try?
- A Summer playlist
- A new recipe or ethnic dinner
- A garden
- A bike trail
- A yoga class
3. Who’s one person you want to learn from? Might this be a place to stretch? What about someone from a political party, or with values that make you uncomfortable? Maybe it’s someone with a job you’re curious about (If you have kids, let them pick and do it together).
- Set up a coffee date
- Brainstorm some questions you’d like to ask
- Write a note afterwards affirming and sharing some new insight you gained.
4. What’s one way you’d like to simplify?
- Unplug (the tv, the phone, the computer, the iron)
- Clean out (a closet, a garage, a basement)
- Say no
- Protect family time – identify boundaries
- Sabbath
5. What’s one thing you might do to nurture spiritual growth in the midst of a different pace?
- Take a daylong silent retreat.
- Take a walk through your neighborhood and pray for the people who live near you. Then do a Sundaes on Sunday in your front yard, inviting the neighborhood to stop by for ice cream.
- Go to the park and watch your kids play. As you watch, thank God for all you see.
- At the lake on a Sunday morning? Try an ABC prayer of praise as a family. Start with one person who names an attribute of God that starts with the letter A. Go around the table – second person takes B, third C, etc. You can do this with things your thankful for instead of attributes too.
Maybe jot down your thoughts in a journal, but then just choose one thing to start with. What helps you live a great story in the summertime?
I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.
deuteronomy 30:19-20
