The highly anticipated “Big 3” of July are complete: City meet, the WEDDING, and even the Senior Class Orientation I had prepared because I’m directing my son’s 12th grade class next year. Tomorrow, my two highschoolers must start math, latin, science, literature, etc., because they will be gone for a national fine arts competition the following “official” first week of school in August. Today, I found myself buying notebooks, pens, and even a desk vacuum, what? (Check your local Target for details). For my friends north of Nashville and especially west of the Rockies, this post might be a shocking experience. But fall is coming for us all, friends.
But how, oh how can it be? Do you see my wrinkled forehead, hear the heavy sigh? The last three months were so busy, so filled with certain stressors and not enough time for poolside reading, BBQ nights, or fireflies. I was going to paint, I was going to clean out my closet, I was…
Hannah!
Count to 10, for pity’s sake.
I’m sorry. My stance seems to default to the negative. Perhaps you can relate? Let’s pause.
Breathe.
Take a closer look at the last three months and find a different narrative.
What did I do with the days? Moments which come to mind quickly… buying bridesmaid dresses with my girls, visiting a wedding venue with my soon to be daughter-in-law, studying Greek drama to teach in class next year, watching my sons mature in leadership while they coached swim team, driving my teenage daughter to her first job lifeguarding, seeing my youngest struggle and overcome frustration to persevere in her sport, slow walks with my sweet husband around the neighborhood and oh my Lord, enjoying my firstborn under my roof at night, at my breakfast table in the morning, and on my daily schedule for the very last time (he arrives home from the honeymoon this afternoon).
This Substack is not a journal of my life, so I am not going to give any more details of my family’s summer schedule or too personal moments, but an idea has come to light as I refocus my gaze on these days just past. It’s a cheerful thought. Hopefully, it can stretch across to your sun-drenched afternoon and give you a fleeting summertime smile too as you think on the days you’ve spent this season.
Honestly, yes, I am a little sad summer was so full that I had little down time for hanging out at the pool, reading some fluffy fiction, or working out a few fun home projects – but as I set my sight on all the things this season WAS rather than what it WAS NOT, I slowly discover the abundant gifts of meaningful days unique to this summer alone, days that won’t come again.
My summer was full and went fast. Maybe yours was too. Or perhaps yours has been long and kinda boring. Maybe the vacation you wanted didn’t happen, or you had to work a ton instead of finding days of rest. It probably wasn’t perfect. Okay. But what about it was absolutely good?
The summer we’ve had is the only summer that will ever be just like it.
Finishing this round of hot days and stormy nights with my oldest child married has hammered into my heart one thing clearly: all the seasons we live are worth enjoying simply for the special snapshot of life they carry. It is a waste of time wishing away what I would have liked them to be, when what they are is valuable and worth celebrating.
I hope the rest of your summer, be it two days or two months, can be all you desire. But more than this, when it finally ends, whatever has transpired, I pray you can look back and see the gifts of what occurred that will never come again. Personally, I’m taking a deep breath tonight and holding in my spirit all that has taken place.
Thank you, God! I can’t help but smile at the real moments of summer, and tomorrow I can approach school without a sigh.