Priorities This Summer

"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." - Mark 6:31

I’ll never forget the summer before our oldest daughter got married. I remember looking at my wife and telling her we would have two vacations that summer. I wasn’t concerned about borrowing money or requesting extra time off work. I would do whatever it took to spend extra time with my family that summer.

Summer is a time of beautiful weather, kids out of school, and planned vacations. As parents, we have a limited number of summers with our children. I challenge you to make the most of your summers.

What memories can you create this summer? What activities can you do with your family? Your family deserves your time. We give attention to work, ourselves, others, and urgent tasks, but I fear our family often gets the leftovers. Let’s be honest, when you retire, what memories do you think will bring you happiness? I would assume it will be the memories with loved ones.

I urge you, dear friend, to make plans this summer. Yes, money is needed, but to be quite honest, your time is far more valuable than money. Memories are created through time spent together.

On my travels, I have the privilege of asking various questions to pastors. One question that has been on my mind, especially lately, is: What memories are you glad you made with your children before they left home? I’ve received a wealth of invaluable information. Interestingly, the most memorable times didn’t require much money as much as they required time and effort.

So I return to my initial question: what can you do this summer with your family to create memories and make the most of your summer? Now, open up your calendar, sit down with your spouse, and decide to schedule those activities right now. Do something good, and by the end of the summer, you will be grateful you made the effort to schedule summer activities and create memories.