The Best Things About Summer Are Free
It’s something we look forward to every year as the school year wraps up - the backpacks get tossed aside, homework is a distant memory, and suddenly our calendars have a little more breathing room.
Summer has a way of inviting us to have a little more fun, but sometimes, there’s a feeling that sneaks in - the internal pressure that tells parents we should be doing more.
More vacations.
More activities.
More camps.
More memory-making moments worthy of social media.
It’s easy to look around and feel like everyone else is giving their kids an over-the-top summer while you’re just trying to keep up with groceries, work schedules, sunscreen, and the endless pile of beach towels. And if we’re not careful, we can start believing the lie that the “best” childhood memories come with a big price tag.
But when you think back to your own favorite summers growing up, chances are the moments you treasure most weren’t expensive at all.
They were simple.
Running through the sprinkler until the sun went down.
Catching lightning bugs in the backyard.
Melty ice cream.
Campfires and S’mores.
Doing cannonballs in the neighbor’s pool.
The best parts of summer were never really about spending money. They were about spending time. Most of us probably don’t remember how much something cost, but we do remember how those times together made us feel.
In a world constantly telling us we’re not doing enough, God gently reminds us that the most meaningful things in life often can’t be bought. When we look at the life of Jesus, He lived that way too. Some of His most powerful moments happened around ordinary tables, simple walks, shared meals, and conversations with people He loved. He noticed the little things. He slowed down enough to be present.
Maybe this summer won’t include a huge vacation or expensive plans.
But maybe it will include:
Family walks after dinner.
Reading books on the porch.
Driveway basketball games.
Singing along to Joy99 with the windows down.
Maybe the real gift of summer is remembering that joy was never hiding in expensive experiences. It’s been sitting quietly in the simple things all along. So if you’ve been feeling like you’re not doing enough as a parent, take a deep breath.
Love doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful.
Sometimes the best memories are made with nothing more than sunshine, time together, and the people God has already placed right in front of us.
~ Amanda