The Matter of Endless Summer

It is bittersweet isn't it?

The end of summer. The end of long, promising hours of daylight stretched before you as a winding road.

Oh that the summer would never end. The release of normal rules... a bit later bedtime and maybe a few more snacks than normally allowed. The extra time to bask in sunlight, play harder, and let the chores slide a few more days.

What would be the matter to have an endless summer?

Working men will have leisure in the future and how this leisure is to be employed is a question much discussed. Now, no one can employ leisure fitly whose mind is not brought into active play every day; the small affairs of a man's own life supply no intellectual food and but small and monotonous intellectual exercise. -- Charlotte Mason

Yet, during the wind down I notice a change in attitudes. A bit more boredom perhaps? A little more snipping and sniping than necessary? Less listening with kindness?

Running free won't sustain you in the long run.

Not enough good things coming in...means not enough good things coming out.

We were made to work. And to work hard.

What is the work of the young? The stretching of the mind. The focus of attention. The wonder of learning. The school books call.

The companion to work is taking time for rest.

Rest:

• with no screen time
• with no chores
• with no rush
• with no thought to the outside world
• and a heart turned to the one who can offer true rest
• for a short time

And then, get out there and give it all you've got!

There is a difference between a 'vacationing attitude' and taking time for a true nourishing rest.

Vacationing endless summer attitude:

• with little regard towards order
• with little thought of accountability
• with little remembrance of responsibility
• with little understanding of true service to others

Wishing for endless summer, or indulging in a vacationing attitude is selfish. Put off today what you could do...well sometime.

Constantly feeling that you deserve more time and more breaks is a lack of understanding.

The search for endless summer is a not possible. It's not real. It leaves you feeling dissatisfied.

Instead.

Work hard.

Rest thoroughly.

Repeat.

1000 Days Like This

Today is the type of day that makes me wish for 1000 more days just like this.

A cool in the morning, but hot enough to go swimming in the afternoon type of day.

An intermittent, fluffy cloud with a slight breeze sort of day.

A throw all your windows open and listen to sounds around you peaceful day.

Indeed, there is Gladness enough in the world for us all; or, to speak more exactly, there is a fountain of Gladness in everybody's heart only waiting to be unstopped. --Charlotte Mason

It's a day like this that makes me smile ever so slightly to myself. I stop and sit a moment unknowingly allowing the gladness to well up and turn to tears in my eyes.

It's a moment where I always get caught by a questioning "what's wrong mom?"

And the answer is that there is nothing wrong. But rather everything is right.

I so often forget.

My to do list today is long like any other day.

• check the pool and ready the things for the children to swim
• hang the laundry out to dry
• remove the spent plants from the front walk
• neaten the rooms
• sweep the step

Exciting stuff like that. Today, I'm glad that I have the opportunity to do these things. Thankful that we have clothing that needed laundered. Thankful that we have children, that they have friends that live close by, that they can play under my own watchful eye. Thankful that there are belongs and treasures that need straightened and cleaned. Thankful that we're in our own home.

Tomorrow, I'll try to unstop the gladness again. 

It's so easy to become overwhelmed. It's so easy to loose joy when contemplating the tasks undone.

The tasks crushing down like a dried flower pressed in the palm of your hand.

There is no gladness in that. Who wants to live the life of wilted flower? Not I.

There is gladness in the world. There is gladness in my world.

And, for a 1000 days like this I will endeavor to let it flow free.