It is the middle of July and in the Mid-West it feels like we have just settled in to the Summer season.  We made it past graduations and June weddings, and there are several more weeks to just enjoy nice weather and family time!

However, in the middle of our “enjoyment season” the marketers all around us are pushing on to the next season.  It seems odd that the Back to School and even Christmas decor is showing up in the middle of our Summer!! 

Why so Pushy? 

Can’t we just enjoy the season that we are in?

Well even though the stores are trying to push us into the next season and you may be feeling anxious that Summer is slipping away, here are a few practical tips to help you enjoy the rest of the Summer while taking care of a few needed steps to help the transition into Fall:

  • 1.  Acknowledge that “calendar” planning is a good thing for Fall and you will be anxious every time you wander in to “Target” type store if you don’t.  So, in the next few weeks take a half-day to register for activities and set your Sept/Oct/Nov calendar.  Now, you can relax these last weeks of summer as you have your activities registered for and planned.
  • 2.  In early August, set a day aside for School Supply shopping if you have school age children.  Your children will know all their supplies are ready and they will not be “anxious” that they are not physically prepared for school.  You can take a deep breath and remind yourself and your children, “We are ready!”
  • 4. Today, thank the Lord that He is with you in the “season of life” you are in.  You may be currently care-free or in extreme need, but the Creator of the seasons has refreshing for you!  Acknowledge you may be feeling stressed because you have been taking a “vacation” from The Source of your Joy!  Get back on track!  A fantastic daily devotional to use is “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young.  Here is a wonderful Psalm to meditate on today:

            Psalm 121

1 I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.