When I was growing up summer evoked a magical feeling. sleeping in was not only ok, but a regular practice. Playing outside until it was dark was the norm and enjoying time off from school became mandatory. The ebb and flow of life during the summer took on a decidedly slower pace. And just like me having a full head of hair, those days are long gone.
As a father, my perception now is that summers are just as full of activities as the rest of the year. There are sports league carpools, camps to pack for and vacation to take. All of that, in just a three-month period. The promise of a lazy summer has been replaced by a frenetic heat wave that takes over our home. We have places to go, things to do, people to see. So how do we keep our sanity though the summer and stay connected with our families and with God? I propose three suggestions for keeping your cool over the next few months.
Disconnect
Take a family trip with the goal of unplugging. I believe that part of the reason why are lives are so busy is that we are always plugged in. Our phones, our tablets and our technology are usually within an arm’s lengths away. And if they aren’t we immediately go into panic mode. With a few swipes or touches, we are connected with our email, our social media, our text messages and the internet. But imagine your family taking a trip where the sole purpose was to disconnect from technology in order to connect with each other. While being unplugged from technology is a truly scary thought for many, think about how you could benefit to eat a meal with each other without the interruption of the buzzes, dings and ring tones of a phone. Consider replacing video games with sitting down over a board game. Take a walk and look at the stars instead of at the TV. Take some time off to enjoy disconnecting from technology and connecting with your family.
Relate
I know connecting can be challenging during the school year with all the busyness of kids doing different directions for different activities and homework assignments. However, the summer might be the perfect time to get back into the habit of eating dinner together. Use the time to not just find out the family news of the day but also discuss current events, or even some dreams and plans you might have as a family. Simply sitting around the table and talking gives you an opportunity to connect in the midst of a busy summer.
Serve
Many times summer plans are about me; me having fun, me working on my tan, me relaxing. However, it can also be about me serving someone else. It might be mowing a neighbor’s lawn without expecting anything in return. It might be taking a few hours and serving at a homeless shelter or animal shelter. It might be taking a short term mission trip either domestically or internationally. Whatever form it might take, one way to keep your sanity through the summer is by serving others, rather than making it about yourself.
Sadly, summer will be in the rearview mirror and we will be looking at the 2nd half of the year with a new school year and the holidays sneaking up on us. Take a cue from Ecclesiastes 3:12: “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and do good while they live. “ Kep this in mind as the summer days start to threaten your sanity. And most importantly, make some amazing memories for you, your family and for the kingdom of God.
Originally published in the Summer 2016 issue of the Texas Conference Flame