Written By: Kari Wiegand
Can you guess my favorite season? That’s right – winter! Wait. What? The girl whose favorite season is winter is writing the summer kick-off blog? Yep! Before everyone thinks I’m completely crazy, I should say that most of my life has been lived in the desert where winter highs are typically in the 50s, and summer highs are routinely 105 degrees or higher. As an adult, my summers mostly consisted of staying indoors where it’s air-conditioned waiting for the cooler temperatures of fall to arrive. But as the mom of a toddler who loves playing outside no matter the temperature, I’ve had to adapt the last few years.
And you know what? Summer has some really great things to enjoy. I love watching my son run around unencumbered by heavier winter clothes, and the joy he gets from playing in the water is infectious. A weird thing I really enjoy is when you’ve been in an air-conditioned restaurant, and you walk outside – that first wave of heat feels so nice. But this summer looks different too, thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak. Every four years with unbridled enthusiasm, I look forward to watching the Summer Olympics. But that’s not happening this year. What are you missing this summer? A family vacation? A wedding? Are your kids missing a summer camp they usually attend? Maybe you had a PCS planned that you were looking forward to (or dreading). Maybe what you’re missing is just delayed. Maybe it’s been completely canceled. It’s hard not to be disappointed when something we’ve planned and looked forward to for weeks, months, maybe even years, doesn’t happen the way we thought it would.
The book of Psalms is full of encouragement for the discouraged.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:11)
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the
righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22 )
So, canceled plans or no canceled plans, I say we adopt Psalm 118:24 as our Bible verse for the summer: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
How will you make the most of this summer?
Written By: Kari Wiegand
