A Time for Everything?

May and September, the busiest months of the year for families with school-age children. September begins with endless forms to fill out, new activities and classes. May is the ending, the culmination of the year’s events. That said summer activities are just around the corner. After the busyness of the past nine months, why not give yourself and your children permission to slow down?

At a family meeting when my boys were in elementary school, we were discussing the summer activity schedule. Baseball, soccer, church camp, swimming, tennis, and the like were all on the table. With the calendar spread before us, we went to work looking at dates, trying not to overlap activities. It was a daunting task to get the schedules to mesh together.

During our discussion, one of the boys quietly said, “I don’t want to do a sport this summer. I’d rather just ride my bike or invite my friends over to play basketball.” His brother chimed in, “Me too!”

Scott and I looked at each other. The boys felt the squeeze for time too. We didn’t cancel all of the activities. Each one went to church camp and took swimming lessons. That was enough. We still talk about that slow summer. And each year we try to keep that experience in mind when contemplating our schedule.

What are your plans for the summer? In Ecclesiates 3:1 the Lord tells us, “There is time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” The activities don’t have to all be done at the same time. This is not to make light of the major events that take place in our lives, but to help us put things in perspective. Take advantage of just being together. You really don’t have to be involved in everything, nor do your children. Take time for each other. You’ll be glad you did.

There is time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

© 2012 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.

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