Enjoying a Few Minutes of Fun in the Sun

“From the rising of the sun
unto the going down of the same
the LORD’s name is to be praised.”
Psalm 113:3

Okay. I know. It’s officially, summer. In South Mississippi, and many places, that means it’s hot, real hot—sun burning, sweat dripping, sticking to your clothes, sipping glasses of sweet tea hot! And, it’s only…going…to…get…hotter. Isn’t that a pleasant, “I’ve waited for this all year” thought? Well, this is no reason to crank the air down, get cranky and hibernate until fall. It’s not time to pout and start putting check marks on the calendar like we’re in prison. Summer is one of God’s seasons too and it’s okay to soak it in a little. We only have one life, it’s up to us to enjoy each season of it while we can. So, grab your flip-flops, sunglasses, and sunscreen, and let’s go!

Sure, like any season, we have to pace ourselves, work around the weather, be prepared for storms, and protect ourselves from the elements. It’s also our decision on how, when, and where we’ll enjoy the fire out of our summer.

We don’t have to like outdoor hobbies to enjoy some of the blessings nature has to offer. We can take in small doses of nature each day in many different and comfortable ways. In the cool of early morning or late evening, we can:

• Sip Tea or Coffee on the porch
• Read and relax in the shade
• Tend to a small garden
• Take a short walk
• Ride a bike
• Go for a swim
• Watch the birds
• Grill out
• Have a picnic
• Sit quietly
• Take a drive on a new road

Go ahead…set the timer. Give yourself ten to thirty minutes of fun in the sun every day this next week and see what happens. We don’t have to be outside long to reap the beautiful benefits of the sun or nature. Take a break and a deep breath and enjoy what the Creator created for us.

We can’t wait until we have a whole day, all the chores are done (which they never are), or we have a week off to take in an enjoyable moment. The time for fun is while the sun is shining and you’re living life, not while waiting for it to pass. Take a quiet, reflective moment and purpose to enjoy it. This pause can change the pace of productivity on a hectic day.

When I stop to look out the window, or step outside to stretch and look up at the sky, I feel my tensions ease. My shoulders drop and the urge to rush, push, and produce relaxes. I feel my heartbeat slow down and my breaths get deeper.

Before I know it, I’m taking a few minutes to read a book on the porch or I start watering my plants, watching the birds splash in the birdbath, and start noticing new blooms and growth in my garden. I soon find myself chilling out and feel my motivation and energy returning. When I head back in to complete my tasks, chores or projects for the day, I am far more productive and enjoy my work even more.

It’s amazing what spending a few minutes in the sun can do for you. I’m thinking that’s what the wonderful Creator had in mind when He created summer.

Bring It Home

When is the last time you purposely went outside to relax and enjoy a few minutes in the sun?

Praying for you as we grow together,

Smiles, BRC