Good Ole Summertime

The end of July tells this recovering procrastinator the good ole summertime is slippin’ away. I’m wishing for that summer feeling I enjoyed as a child, wanting to recapture it before schedules declare “summer over.”

Since God designed us for work, play, and rest, we should engage in all of them. Are we so “adult” that we over focus on work and barely notice summer except for wishing the car weren’t so hot? I’ve been wondering, what made childhood summer so good?

At our house we children spent hours playing in the garden hose and sprinkler, screaming and darting in and out of the cool spray, and for no good reason trying to avoid our shaking dog.

We also played in the creek, gooey clay squishing through our toes while we dammed up the flow of water to “make it deeper!” We’d watch our stick and leaf boats float out of sight, drifting past air bubbles in the clay where crawfish burrowed away from nosy kids.

The library was a cool summertime haven. We could linger long there, stepping quietly over the creaky old floors, breathing in the musty smell of the building and hundreds of books. It was so much fun to choose! Later, I’d sit on the grass, lean back on the rough bark of a tree and open a book with anticipation of new adventure.

After baths we’d go outside again with Mother’s, “Don’t roll in the grass!” reminding us bedtime was near. Then we’d chase lightening bugs and watch the captives inside a jar, amazed that their little bodies twinkled a golden glow. “How do they do that?”

I think it was the childlikeness of enjoying moments of wonder, of freedom, of doing something different from the rest of the year that helped make summer special.

I think I’ll recapture that summer outdoor reading pleasure by taking a book to the backyard shade. If little ones don’t let you stop for long, maybe you can swap rest and play times with a friend so each of you can be refreshed. At least take those shoes off and feel the prickly grass!

What summer memory might you reclaim to enjoy this week?