Reflections on Summer
By Anna Woell
A Message From Pastor Zieroth:
This newsletter item was recently written by my daughter, Anna Woell, for a Concordia Center for the Family newsletter.
Anna graduated from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Family Life Ministry. She lives in Michigan with her pastor husband and two young children, Reuben and Joyce. She volunteers for CCF by putting together bi-monthly prayer emails.
As the school year approaches, remember that Jesus is going with you and your family there, too.
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Today I wanted to share with you a reflection on my summer together with my little family and take a moment to look forward to the new school year.
I’m sure you might be thinking of similar things as the summer winds down. My mom, a church musician, gave me my love of hymns, so I thought I would take a look at one for our time together. This hymn, "Across the Sky the Shades of Night," from Lutheran Service Book #899, is typically used to bring in a new calendar year, but I’m using it today to mark the change in the life season of summertime to the new school year!
The second verse goes like this: Before the cross subdued we bow, To You our prayer addressing, Recounting all Your mercies now, And all our sins confessing; Beseeching You this coming year To keep us in Your faith and fear And crown us with Your blessing.
I have been reflecting back… with lots of joy and, I realize, confession.
I’m sure many of you can relate to some of my remembrances of family life this summer: I loved seeing my kids’ joy – playing at the splash pad, gathering candy at parades, playing with the now-multitude of cousins, picking blueberries, looking at old family photos with grandparents. My son and I learned some hand-embroidery together and spent hours doing it.
Both my kids actually really enjoy sorting laundry, which has been an amazing and helpful way for them to take care of our family. We read so many books.
What a joyful summer! And I look back with sadness at some hard times. I am a grumpy mom more than I would like to admit. We had some rough nights after being overstimulated all day. My son decided to practice his newly acquired skill of whistling at 3:00 in the morning – I definitely did not react kindly or calmly to that. And oh, I was so mad when someone accidentally sprayed me with the hose. And it feels so hard to pack up for a big trip with kids underfoot. We had several sicknesses and changed plans.
Deep breaths, I am telling myself as I recall it all. This was, with Jesus, a summer of grace. In our joy and in our penitence, He is Lord of it all. He is joyful with us. And He offers His forgiveness.
As the school year approaches, remember that Jesus is going with you and your family there too. Here is the fifth verse of the hymn: Then, gracious God, in years to come, We pray Your hand may guide us, And, onward through our journey home, Your mercy walk beside us Until at last our ransomed life Is safe from peril, toil, and strife When heav’n itself shall hide us.
Everything is going to be okay, because Jesus is right there with you. God bless and keep you as we start a fresh new school year!