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The last thing that anyone wants to read right after the beginning of the new year is any kind of post about setting a goal or resolution, picking a word, or setting an intention. Conversations and social media become saturated with this language. While some people thrive off of conquering or mastering a goal, other people can be easily overwhelmed by the thought of even starting to come up with anything “new” this year.

Over this past summer, I potty trained my firstborn. In preparation for this, I read books and consulted my mom and other friends who had gone before me in taking on this same task. The plan was to spend three days at home near the bathroom until we figured everything out. At the time, we were in the middle of moving and living temporarily in a mostly carpeted apartment rental. The only non-carpeted areas of the apartment were the kitchen, eating, and bathroom areas. Our three days were going to be spent camped out in our kitchen and eating areas exclusively. Those three days were so hard for everyone. The learning curve for my toddler, my husband, and myself was significant.

Two years ago, on Christmas morning, my husband posted a picture on social media of us with his family in front of a Christmas tree. The picture was well received and “liked” by many friends. The tree we were standing in front of was in his parents’ church. The whole family—siblings, spouses, and children—was together for Christmas. What’s not to love when you see a picture like that?

Near my house, there is a hiking trail that is relatively flat and very easy to hike with my two young children. It is less than one mile in length and makes a nice circle that is simple to follow. Hiking is probably a generous term for this area, but we rarely complete this loop. There are large rocks to climb at the entrance to the trail and the path itself is comprised of very tiny rocks that my children love to constantly stop and touch.

Change and transition can be fun and exciting. Change and transition can also be difficult and tedious. In my family, which currently includes two toddlers, change typically falls into the “difficult and tedious” category more often than the “fun and exciting.”

Children, especially at a young age, need to learn how to utilize all five of their senses. They’re learning that a stove can be hot to touch, that cookies smell good, that they don’t like the taste of green beans, that they recognize their mom’s voice out of all the others in a room, and that they must wait to see the WALK sign before crossing the street.

Kids have a lot of emotions, and they’re way worse at hiding them than adults. (Well, maybe not all adults. I once cried because I wanted falafel, but couldn’t make it because my food processor was broken.)

Doing family devotions takes a lot of commitment, consistency, and motivation! There may not be a more challenging time for that than the middle of the summer, when family vacations, holiday celebrations, family gatherings, and just plain old summer fun fill our calendars.

It’s not easy to gather your entire family in one place at one time, but using spare moments to draw your family closer to God is key. 

If you’re looking for small ways to make a difference in your family’s summer routine, family devotions are one way to do that! The Everyday Faith Calendar can be quick—if you only have five minutes in between dinner and a softball game, you can squeeze it in. Or if you want to go more in-depth, you can do that too!

Here are a few summer-centric ideas for finding time in the Word with the Everyday Faith Calendar!

The Fruit of the Spirit is a common lesson in Sunday School and religion classes. Children sing the catchy little song, recite the fruits in order, and then ask if "kindness" is available in a fruit cup they can put in their lunch bag.