When I look at summer today, it’s a world apart from the summers I grew up with. So many children now expect to be entertained, always going somewhere, always needing something new. Screens are constant—from toddlers to grandparents. I grew up in a very different rhythm. And the older I get, the more grateful I am for it.
In our house, there was no endless TV running in the background. A week of television might have been a single one-hour family show on Monday and Wednesday night, and maybe some Saturday morning cartoons or an old western. But boredom didn’t live in our house. We read. And did we read! Huckleberry Finn, Nancy Drew mysteries, Helen Keller, the stories of missionaries and martyrs, The Chronicles of Narnia, Bible stories, and the Bible itself—all of them stretched my vocabulary, my imagination, and my hunger for learning.
Summer vacation was not for laziness. There was work to be done—always. Weeding the garden (a task I bartered out of whenever possible), cooking, dishes, laundry, and lots of canning. My parents both grew up in Amish farm homes, so canning was almost second nature. Learning to wield a paring knife was a necessary skill early on. We worked like a little assembly line: peeling, slicing, chopping, filling jars, and unloading the canner. I learned the satisfaction of seeing shelves full of food we had prepared for the coming months.
Sometimes we went on week-long camping trips filled with daily swimming, fishing, and hay rides. Those were simple but memorable times. We didn’t need fancy theme parks to create joy; the joy came from being together, from shared work, from simple adventures, and from knowing how to be content.
My family loved baseball, from t-ball to major league. No way we would miss watching the World Series, though that usually wasn’t sitting with chips and snacks like most. We were often out in the back greenhouse with a little black-and-white TV tucked in the corner, shucking corn, cutting kernels off, boxing it for freezing—all while cheering for our teams.
There were simple rewards too. Dad would often take us to the grocery store, and we each got to pick out a box of ice cream. That little treat felt like luxury.
I guess you could say I always had a love for teaching, even as a little girl. While some kids played house, I played school. I gathered neighborhood children under the bushes in our “forts” and pulled out my word and arithmetic flashcards, teaching my own backyard classroom. Chore charts? I was an ace.
And yes—we played. We built brush forts, camped in the backyard, hiked for berries (and found a few ticks along the way), played king of the mountain on leaf piles, and even climbed the tall pine trees behind our house. Church was a central part of our rhythm too—from midweek services, to home groups my dad led, to family fellowship nights and wiener roasts.
Were there moments I wished for something more? Probably. But as I look back now, I realize what I received was far greater. I learned to value a good day’s work, to appreciate what others might throw away, and to see the worth in people and things that needed redemption. Whether it was bruised fruit or a struggling single mom we took in, or foster children that joined our home, my parents lived out a lifestyle of rescue and restoration—and quietly taught us to do the same.
“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.” — Proverbs 15:16 (NKJV)
Today, many kids (and parents) could benefit from that kind of simple, grounded summer. Summers that aren’t built on where we go, but who we become. Summers that teach our kids to work with their hands, to appreciate the little things, to find joy in family, faith, and small blessings.
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” — 1 Timothy 6:6 (NKJV)
Summer doesn’t have to be filled with expensive trips and constant entertainment to be rich and full. It can be full of work that produces joy, of moments that build character, and of teaching hearts to be thankful.
If I could give one encouragement to families looking at the long stretch of summer ahead, it would be this: Don’t fear the quiet days. Don’t worry about keeping up with everyone else’s plans. Don’t underestimate the gift of simple things done together. What your children will carry for life isn’t where they went, but who they became — and who they watched you become in front of them.
A simple summer reminder:
The world may chase bigger, louder, and faster. But peace comes when we slow down, stay rooted, and let God’s hand shape the days—ordinary and sacred alike.
📖 Summer Bible Memory Challenge
Theme Verse: Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Goal:
Memorize 6 verses over 6 weeks of summer. Simple, consistent, and fun — with little rewards along the way to celebrate progress.
| Week | Verse | Reward |
| 1 | Joshua 1:8 | Family ice cream night 🍦 |
| 2 | Proverbs 3:5-6 | Stay up 15 minutes later 🌙 |
| 3 | Psalm 119:105 | Pick a family movie 🎬 |
| 4 | Philippians 4:13 | Choose dinner one night 🍽️ |
| 5 | Galatians 5:22-23 | Special family outing 🧺 |
| 6 | Matthew 6:33 | Pick a new book or small prize 📚 |
- Read the verse together each morning.
- Display it where everyone can see.
- Practice during car rides or chores.
- Celebrate weekly!
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” — Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)
