God, you are so good to us. You’ve brought us through a very tough year and sustained us when we didn’t know what exactly we needed or what would come next. You faithfully carried us in moments of fear, weakness, uncertainty and doubt, and you offered grace abundantly in so many situations we were navigating for the first time.

Now, summer is upon us–what a glorious feeling! The kids have all come through an anything-but-ordinary school year, we’ve hung up backpacks and put away school supplies, and we’re gearing up for days of swimming and fishing and growth and sunshine. It all feels so hopeful, and everything that we experience as encouragement is something you’ve offered to us freely out of the overflow of your tenderness towards us, your generosity to us.

There has been a lot of loss this past year, and now finally feels like a time when we can look forward and not back…when we can more tangibly process what we’ve felt and move into a season of joyful expectation. Would you please help us to move through the areas of hurt, pain or disappointment we feel and into a space of greater freedom and peace? Father, in your mercy, you protect and defend us against the enemy, against harm. Please send your angels of covering and protection over our families–and especially our children–as we embark on summertime adventures and fill our days with physical activity.

Lord, summer is always a gift here as we’re relieved of colder, grayer days, layers and closed up homes. Would you help us to embrace the warmer weather, to be joyful about high temperatures or hot sunshine or extra daylight and to be restored amidst fresh air and outdoor living? Please help us to be good neighbors and friends, to extend ourselves to others as we’re able and to remember those who might need extra encouragement in this season. Please allow us to be your hands and feet, and to model this for our children as well.

God, we are thankful. We’re thankful for a break from routine, for more family time together, for long days and beach sunsets, picnics and ice cream stops, baseball and gardens. We’re thankful that everything feels more alive and colorful, that our territory expands greatly as we can enjoy being outside, that we can soak up Vitamin D and care for our bodies well, and that we can enjoy locally grown produce at the ready. Summertime is so full of good things!

Heading to bed tonight, we are eager to see what you’ll do and how you’ll move in the weeks ahead. No matter where we go, we trust that you are already there, making a pathway for those who love you and pursuing those who may not know you yet. Please help us to be your hands and feet in this world that so desperately needs the kind of hope and covering only you can provide.

Amen!

MM