Planning a Luke 2:52 Summer

[A special thank you to Terri Conlin, a sweet mentor, who shared this verse with me in regard to what she did with her children when they were little.  You inspired words and direction for all the thoughts I was having!]

Summer is upon us and I find myself both relieved and a bit anxious.

I love the freedom of an open schedule but I also have learned, from experience, that my kids and I will drive each other crazy if there is no routine at all.

So, here I am, in May trying to figure out if we can find the balance in the middle.

Summer is such a great time to create some fun memories with our children and intentionally engage our family in spiritual growth.  

And rest.

{That’s why I am praying this post encourages a spirit of simplicity and freedom, not an attitude of striving and busyness.  Let’s keep each other in check.}

We are approaching this summer with a Luke 2:52 mindset.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.  Luke 2:52

I love the application of this verse.  We most always think of Jesus as a man, but He was once a boy too.  Young just like our children.

And Jesus was taught, trained, and encouraged in His youth just as we are doing in our homes.

Four areas he grew in were wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man.  

This summer, the kids and I both are going to be organizing our time to grow in these FOUR areas.  

WISDOM…growing our minds  

For us, that looks like:  reading great stories, practicing and reteaching any “tricky” spots from schoolwork, and observing nature and beauty in art.

STATURE…strengthening our bodies

For us, that looks like: swimming lessons, learning a new sport, sit ups and push ups, and educating ourselves on healthy eating habits.

FAVOR WITH GOD…growing in our relationship with God

For us, that looks like:  developing the habit of personal quiet time with God, keeping a thankful journal, memorizing Scripture.

FAVOR WITH MAN…growing in our relationships with one another and others

For us, that looks like:  doing a Bible Study on sibling relationships, spending time encouraging and serving friends, and family fun nights

I am so excited about this!  And I’m praying Luke 2:52 may encourage you as well to choose a summer of growing as Jesus did.

As we were looking at summer activities and how we were choosing to spend our time, I asked the Lord to help me look for things that would encourage these areas I mentioned above.

The ways we inspire growth in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man will look different for each of us based on the needs of our family.  

I encourage you to first PRAY.  Ask the Lord to show you what ways He wants to grow your family.

I’m sure we each see areas where improvement is needed.  I bet there are things you have been wanting to do with your kids…or activities you wish you had more time to do!

This may be the very summer to pick a couple of those things and intentionally focus there.

Here’s a weekly printable to keep us growing this summer!  (If you like it, you can print one out for you too).

Lord, help us to seek You and trust You with our summer plans.  Guide us so that we may grow to reflect You and draw others to a relationship with You.  Help us to balance our days entrusting our moments to you so there is life and rest, not striving and weariness.  May we all bring you great glory as we grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with You and others this summer!  

I’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS!  HOW’S GOD LEADING YOU THIS SUMMER?