There are times of rest and refreshment that await us as summer approaches. Activities and vacations welcome new experiences, and new viewpoints. Moments of reflection arise when we take the time to observe what we find around us. We rediscover joy in our closest friends and in trusting family ties. New places and new experiences bring our lives into focus in a way that brings clarity. We find happy moments in the unusual, and in the everyday. We awaken to the rhythm of our hearts as we take the time to enjoy our life and our experiences.

Family, friends, fun, and fellowship! These four words express so much about what we value and appreciate. I encourage you to lean into your reflections, and let them expose the things you’ve been too busy or too distracted to notice. Did your friend’s reaction show stress? Did your family member seem unsettled and unsure? Did your teenager react with enthusiasm one minute and sadness the next?

Sometimes our lives are so busy with routine that we don’t pick up on the cues that are unspoken. Anxiety and pain are hiding in plain sight, and we brush it off as someone’s bad attitude, or bad day. What would we notice, or what would we say if we were really paying attention?

Let’s decide to slow down a bit, and enjoy the activities of fellowship and fun this summer. There is a treasure awaiting us in our relationships. It is a decision to have eyes to see beyond the surface of our conversations. It is a choice to notice what someone is saying beyond their words. It is a commitment to be active in the role of family member or friend. Let’s decide to show appreciation; to comment from a place of listening. We can be the one to share vulnerability and welcome honesty. We can choose to be supportive and invest in the people around us. We can rejoice in the fun activities, and encourage the deeper connection built on the sharing of hearts.

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Hebrews 10:24 ESV “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

Fellowship is a friendly relationship and companionship, built through a community of shared interests, feelings, and experiences of faith. It is a bond that unites us and brings intimacy and a depth of devotion. While we are enjoying the road trips, roller coasters, and waves of our summer, let’s not forget to build into the fun with deeper unity and bonds of togetherness. Let’s include moments and reflections of God’s love. Let’s encourage with a scripture or a prayer. When the vacation is long past, it is not the momentary thrill, but the depth of relationship that will rest with us.

Romans 1:11-12 “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you- that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Have a happy summer!