I’m sure I am not alone in thinking that the winter of 2017/2018 will go down in history as the longest winter ever. Well into April, freezing temperatures and snowfall upon snowfall plagued our sisters all over North America making us wonder…
Will summertime ever arrive? Are we destined to freeze forever?
But we know better than that, don’t we? We know that our good and gracious God isn’t stagnant and neither is the world He created. We believe that:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
And now, here we are at the end of May. The school year is wrapping up. Grocery stores are having sales on everything from charcoal to hamburger buns. And sunscreen has made its inaugural appearance on your shopping list.
A Mother's Prayer for Summer
So, take a moment with me now, will you? As we sit on the precipice of another summer and all the fun and beauty it brings, join me in prayer. A prayer of thanksgiving and hope and protection for all of our sisters, our families, our friends, and the adventures that summer will bring us.
WRITE + PRAY
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Discover your story within His.
Dearest Father…
You are the Creator of the seasons and the Master of the sun. With winter now past and spring in full bloom, we thank You that, once again, You have brought us from glory to glory. Out of the cold of the snow into the refreshing rains of springtime, You have faithfully been with us. When we didn’t think we could take one more snow day or one more chilly night, You sent us sunshine. When everything in nature seemed brown and lifeless, You made things to grow and bloom.
We thank You, Lord, for the cold that makes us appreciate the warmth and for the rains that make the sun appear even brighter. Many of our families were touched by illness this winter, Lord, so we thank You for healing and for the restoration the warm weather brings. And because of the studies and activities and obligations that have kept us hopping for months on end, we thank You for the promise of rest, relaxation, and the slower pace of summertime.
Jesus, our Brother…
Journey through the summer with us. Be with us as we sink our toes into the sand, hike through the mountains, and play on the playgrounds. Laugh with us when our kids’ goggles are too big and bathing suits won’t quite cover their little bottoms. Sit with us on porch swings and poolsides, beaches and bicycles. Run with us in the sunshine and sit with us in the shade. And, Jesus, when the days of rains come or the heat gets to be too much, rest with us.
Wherever our summertime quest takes us, never let us forget to find You in all things. Remind us that You are always with us, no matter where we roam. And inspire in us a desire to seek You out in every new place, new church, new destination. Because in finding You, we find our home.
Spirit of Mercy…
New adventures and increased family time are so much fun, but can honestly be a bit taxing at times. Please help us to show Your mercy and love to our children, no matter what excitement they undertake. Keep them safe in the water and wherever else they venture. Help us to be brave when they want to try new things, be it sleep-away camp or a new sport.
Please, Holy Spirit, let them not forget every single lesson they learned in school last year. Lead us not into too much screen time, but deliver us from the complaints of boredom. Inspire in us some extra creativity to fill the long days, and grant us peaceful rest through the nights.
Bless our families and friends and communities, this summer, Lord.
Amen.