A Summer Full of Joy

by Candyce Carden @Candyce Carden

My summers are numbered now. They no longer stretch out before me, a long winding path on a board game to be played again and again. Consequently, I reached out to grab this one with both hands.

Summers have always occupied a special room in my heart. After my years as a student, I spent many more years in the classroom. Only teachers can appreciate what a gift summer is to hardworking school teachers.

This one has been exciting. The shiny eyes of the grandkids as they embrace the gift of freedom that summer break offers. Sleeping in. Playing outdoors after dark. Swimming pools. Barbeques. Sleepovers. Vacations and daytrips. A welcome change in routine.

Since I’m on the clock and didn’t want to miss a thing, a flurry of activity filled June, coloring my days with delight, zest, gusto, and joy. My heart spills over, but my energy wanes. As we approach another full month of summer, I had to reexamine my initial goal. Was it biblical?

God Desires Joy for Us

God intends for us to experience joy and delight.He smiles when we do.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (l John 15:11 ESV).

Jesus came to give abundant life, and joy is a fruit of the Spirit. But if we don’t unplug from life on earth and plug into our heavenly Father, we become depleted rather than full. When we run too-speedy a race to grab what God came to give, we risk missing out. I needed to slow my pace to actually receive the “full joy” He offers.

Life gets mighty precious where there’s less of it to waste.

Bonnie Raitt

The above lyric from Bonnie Raitt’s “Nick of Time” hits home. The meaning behind the song fueled my summer intentions, but it wasn’t entirely true.

Our True Sourxe of Joy

I needed to engage with our true Source of Joy. For all the abundant things Jesus came to give, the first part of His call is to be with Him.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31 NIV).

God is teaching me to peacefully let go of that which slips away as we age, such as a loss of energy and stamina. This doesn’t mean I become a couch potato. It means only that I let go of my compulsive decision not to miss out on anything despite what the world tells me when it proclaims, “YOLO!” (You only live once).

God tells me otherwise. A life lived with Jesus is precious and never wasted.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor 4:18 NIV).

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28 NIV).

My summers are numbered now. They no longer stretch out before me, a long winding path on a board game to be played again and again. #Joyful Summer #Summertime Share on X

Have a joy-filled summer! Don’t forget to recharge by resting with Jesus. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Congratulations, Annie Yorty.  Annie was the winner of last month’s book giveaway by Dr. Katherine Pasour. A wonderful gift for someone off to college this fall. Click for more info.