Don’t Waste Your Summer

It’s almost here. The weather is finally getting warmer (at least here in Michigan). Spirits are up. The days are long. The end of school is nigh. The unofficial beginning of season–Memorial Day weekend–is right around the corner.

Which means in a little over three months we’ll all be moaning, “Where did the summer go? I can’t believe it’s over.” So what can we do over the next hundred days or so to help alleviate that feeling of loss? Or to put it positively, what can we do to make the most of June, July, and August? Here are twenty suggestions.

1. Forget about all the days you’ve missed on your Bible reading plan. Pick up with the schedule this summer and stick with it.

2. Choose 12-15 verses to memorize. Work on one a week.

3. Drive with the windows down, and keep the windows open at night.

4. Take a road trip and sing loudly in the car.

5. Take your kids to a baseball game.

6. Catch fireflies.

7. Play kickball in the backyard.

8. Take a prayer day.

9. Make plans now to watch the Summer Olympics. Go ahead and binge. They only come around every four years.

10. When you’re driving across the country, don’t freak out about stopping at McDonald’s.

11. Keep track of how many hot dogs you eat, and don’t feel bad about any of them.

12.  Run/walk/watch a 5k.

13. Go to a parade on Memorial Day; watch fireworks on the Fourth of July.

14. Check Facebook and Twitter and Instagram a lot less.

15. Go outside. Play at the beach. Take a walk. Give thanks to God for his creation.

16. Read a book just for fun. Read another book by someone who’s dead.

17. Stop by the nursing home, the hospital, or the assisted living unit and visit someone who would love to be outside.

18. Go swimming. Don’t worry about how you look (be modest of course!).

19. Invite a friend to church.

20. Buy something from the ice cream truck.

What else would you add to your list?