Summer

These are the weeks when we feel we've lived our whole day... and it's only 2pm. When we've already made meals, doused our children in sunblock, packed more snacks than we think they can feasibly eat, had an adventure, and returned home triumphant. We may be sweaty, and have two loads of laundry to throw in the wash from said adventure, but we did it. Perhaps you even managed to cross something off of your summer bucket list.

We brew another round of coffee and watch our children settle into an activity for the afternoon. But just as we're about to send that email, or form a coherent meal plan in our head, a knee gets scraped, or a power cord is in desperate need of being found. We sigh, even as our lips form a smile, because the monotony of summer parenting is glorious in both its frustration and its beauty. 

As the final dog days of summer come to an end, I want to remind you that God sees the number of beach towels you washed, the encouragement you poured into them as you watched them jump into the pool for the millionth time, and the extent of your exhaustion. Though your children may see it as just another summer, God sees the small summer sacrifices you made every single day, and He applauds you for faithfully loving your family well. 

In the midst of both frustration and beauty this August, may we hear the sound of His applause above all else.