By the time
July rolls around, summer is in full swing. Most people have already
experienced a family trip, Vacation Bible School, and pool fun. With the
newness of summer worn off, it’s easy for families to fall into a summer slump.
The good intentions of the projects we hoped to get done, the books we planned
to read, or the family bonding time we envisioned might slip through our
fingers.
July is a
good time to take inventory. Exactly six months have passed since the New Year
tolled and we confidently made resolutions. The holidays seem like eons away
from the hot days of mid-summer. In July, children and teenagers may fall into
a rut of accomplishing nothing and vegging out on television and video games.
Moses prayed
that the Lord would teach us to number our days carefully so that we may
develop wisdom in our hearts. (See Psalm 90:12.) Even in the lazy days of
summer, let’s not become sloths. We can model for our children how to use our
time productively. Here are four ways we can live intentionally this summer.
Evaluate and organize.
July is a
great time for midyear assessment. Are we still on track for any of the goals
we set in January? Realistically, what do we hope to accomplish in the second
half of the year?
When July
heat drives us indoors, we can spend time tidying our lives. Pick a project.
Maybe the digital pictures need to be sorted, filed, and saved several times.
Make a big stack of clothes to give away.
Set
spiritual goals for the remainder of the year. Each summer I evaluate what I
hope to accomplish at church in the fall as well as what writing projects need
my attention.
Connect with your church.
Though your
church’s schedule may be toned down in the summer, don’t let your connection
with the Body of Christ wane. One sad reality in our day is that Christians
attend worship on Sundays less than they did in past decades.
The Bible
says that Sunday is the Lord’s Day — it belongs to Him. Prioritize worshiping
with your church family on Sunday when you are in town. Don’t forget to give
financially to your fellowship. Summer tends to be the hardest time for a
church’s income. Look for ways to serve in your church during the hot summer
days. Substitute Sunday School teachers or small group leaders may be needed as
families take vacations.
Attempt to
get to know some people in your church. Plan to go out to eat together on
Sundays. Invite a senior adult or widow in your church over for a meal. Host a
short-term prayer group or Bible study in your home. Linger after the worship
service and talk.
Take one-on-one trips.
My wife and
I schedule same-gender trips with our children one-on-one during the summer. We
try to make the get-aways fun without spending tons of money. Last summer, my
14-year-old and I kayaked on the French Broad River in Asheville, N.C., through
the Biltmore Estate. One year we went to the National Whitewater Center in
Charlotte for some water fun.
We set time
aside for much-needed bonding between father and son and mother and daughter.
We look forward to the trips all year. We also intentionally use the trips to
discuss any pressing issues confronting our children. When my son was 11, we
had the “birds and the bees” discussion on our overnight trip, using James
Dobson’s Preparing for Adolescence. We try to talk with them about things that
matter without making the time too heavy or pushy. It’s one of the few moments
during our year that we can leisurely spend time together with no real agenda
other than connecting.
Don’t forget to play.
We’ve heard
it said that the family that prays together stays together. But it’s also true
that the family that plays together stays together. Without the routine of
school, ball practice, and music rehearsals, summer provides margin for
families. During the school year, parents have to be responsible for keeping
our kids on task for all of those engagements. So for the summer, let’s be
responsible for making sure our family plays!
Find some
local points of interest to visit. Our family takes several Saturdays each
summer and finds waterfalls in upstate South Carolina. They provide cool
refreshment on hot afternoons. Have “no electronic nights” when you play board
games and charades or tell stories.
I love summer, and I love to read. As a homeschool mom, I treasure summer time to curl up on the couch with a good book. I watch my children nestled in their Enos in the woods, reading a thrilling adventure story.
During summer, we have to catch ourselves from falling into the habit of spending all day watching movies and playing video games. Reading is a fantastic alternative.
We read biographies together. The Christian Heroes and the Heroes of History series from YWAM Publishing provide great treasures for family reading. This year we have George Washington, William Wilberforce, Elisabeth Elliot, Clara Barton, and C. S. Lewis on our list.
Give your older children reading assignments for the summer and then discuss together their reading adventures.
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