A Mommy’s Summer

The end of summer is rapidly approaching, to the dismay of some (children) and to the delight of others (parents?). As a stay at home mom, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of hanging out with my kids every day this summer. And this year, I can say that without sarcasm. What was different this time around?

I could point to a number of fun experiences, such as my oldest son going to Pine Cove Christian Camp (where I worked during college). Thanks to some daily deal sites, we’ve visited some local museums, movies, and dining venues at discounted prices. With four kids in the house, these kinds of outings are rare, so we all enjoyed the opportunities to play together somewhere other than our house. Of course, our neighborhood pool is always available for a morning energy-outlet.

By far, however, I’d point to our family vacation as the highlight of the summer. Yes, we had fun on the beach. Yes, we enjoyed site-seeing in Charleston, SC. Yes, we loved hanging out with our friends who joined us. But watching my husband baptize our son Nate in the calm morning waters of the Atlantic Ocean…well, that just did it for me. Thankfully, I was too busy to cry, taking pictures and straining to hear their voices over the low roar of the water.

Nate didn’t come out of the waters a different boy. He didn’t suddenly decide to obey better, treat his younger siblings kindly at all times, or volunteer to help around the house without being asked. He’s been growing in those areas for many months, but baptism didn’t make him perfect. It did represent a courageous step of faith for a kid not too keen on the spotlight. He made us proud.

When the summer started, our church’s children’s ministry challenged all the kids to read a chapter of the Bible every day for 60 days. Nate and his younger brother Jack took up that challenge. So for the first time ever, I spent the summer saying, “Have you read your Bible today?” and getting a positive response! OK, so they were motivated by the prizes, but I didn’t really care. They were getting their faces in the Book, and that is always a good thing.

Don’t think I’m not looking forward to the reliable routine of the school year. Feeding, refereeing, and herding my little brood 24/7 can make this mama a little crazy sometimes. But I am so thankful for the added element of spiritual growth that I’ve noticed this summer. They are not angelic little creatures, but they love God in their juvenile ways, and He is a very real part of their lives.

I’m praying Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

My challenge to myself, and my question for you, is “What else can I do as a mom to encourage their continued maturity in Christ?” Help me out, parents out there. What do/did you do with your kids to move them forward in their relationship with Christ and love for their neighbors?

A li’l help??