Avoiding Snares of the Summer
Have you ever failed to anticipate danger?
When I was in middle school, a friend and I ventured out into the woods to a rope swing. Snow had recently fallen, so everything came with an extra level of excitement…and danger. I eagerly launched off of the hill and ascended over the marshy ravine below. However, I did not anticipate the ice on the rope nor the inability of my winter gloves to grip the rope. In a painful thud, I was on my back. When I finally looked around, on my right was a piece of sharp, jagged metal. I had escaped injury by mere inches because I had not anticipated the potential dangers of that swing.
Scripture says, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it” (Prov. 22:3). The wise man sees evil coming and avoids it. The unwise don’t care, and they fall right into the trap.
In my experience, these traps tend to come around transitions, like a career change, a move, or new stage of life. Good things can be a trap, and one “transition trap” we fathers should be aware of is one that we experience every year: the transition from spring to summer.
I want to look at four Summertime Snares that can trap us if we are not careful and prevent us from pointing our children to Jesus.
1. Summer is a time of relaxation.
I’m sure you have looked forward to relaxing since the end of last summer. I kicked off summer by spending a week at the beach with my family. It was so nice to finally get some rest. But what’s the danger here? The danger is that we can put relaxation above all else.
We have worked hard all year and now feel we deserve to relax. Yes, relaxation is a good thing. There are times when we need to rest. The problem is that we tend to place the emphasis on self and overcompensate on how much “rest” we need. Rest can quickly turn into isolation and laziness.
So how can we counteract this tendency? Here is a simple action step you can take: Find ways to invest in others this summer.
Look for someone outside of your immediate family that you can serve— and bring your kids along with you! Get the focus off yourself in little ways, and help your children see the value in serving others as well. Don’t let your need for rest turn into selfish indulgence. Beware of the danger and find someone to invest in.
2. Summer is a time of flexibility.
Summers bring long days and days off. There’s not as much need to get to bed early or get up early. You can make time for the things that you have been dreaming about all winter. However, this too can be dangerous. Flexibility causes us to get out of routine.
We may not enjoy every part of our daily routine, but routines help us to prioritize good things. Important things like church attendance, Bible reading, and prayer may start to be replaced by our hobbies. We can miss out on some important things or give them less attention because we neglect to live with purpose. To correct this impulse**, plan to prioritize the most important things.**
If we don’t have a plan for the important, we will revert to what is easy and comfortable. Prioritize your time in a way that reflects godliness to your children and family.
One great way to do this is to set apart times to spend with your kids one on one. Use the change of routine to give them the individual attention that they need!
3. Summer is a time with family.
I have many fond memories of summers as a kid. Almost all of them involve spending time with my family. I’m sure that is the case with you too. The danger is that if you are not walking with God, your kids will see it. During the summer, your children will get a closer look at who you are.
Parenting often reveals our true character, and our children will see if you are living for God or just putting on a face for church on Sundays. You can’t lead your family further than you are spiritually, so purpose to grow in character with your family.
We all have room to grow, and your kids will probably be the first to point that out! Make it a goal to exemplify spiritual growth. Grow in your time in the Word and in prayer. Over time, you will see God changing you.
As you are growing, bring your children along with you. You can have a time of family devotions or prayer before bed, for example. Through small actions, you are teaching your children that the summer doesn’t mean a break from spiritual things.
4. Summer is a time for relationships.
With more free time and warm weather, we gravitate towards others. Summer afternoons at the pool, cookouts around the various holidays, and other community events just bring people together. The danger here is that we miss the opportunities to build gospel-centered relationships.
Relationships are an essential component of the Christian life, and we need other Christians in our lives so that we can build up one another. This summer, find another dad that will encourage you in Christlikeness. Like iron sharpening iron, we can sharpen each other in our effectiveness as fathers.
Summer may have its snares, but we also have an incredible opportunity to devote more time and energy to the Lord and our families. Even implementing one of these four suggestions may help you avoid the summertime snares. Lord willing, you can look back at this summer with satisfaction, knowing that it helped you point your children to Jesus.